Keeping Tabs on Onion, Potato Prices; Surprise Raids in City Market

Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI: Green grocers and vegetable vendors who have been selling onion and potato at exorbitant rates in Beltola weekly market on Sunday were caught off guard by a surprise raid conducted by the officials of the State Food and Civil Supplies Department and the Department of Legal Metrology.

The surprise raid in the market was conducted following a directive from the Kamrup (M) District Administration after getting reports that vegetables vendors have been selling onion and potato at exorbitant prices at various places in the city and elsewhere in the State. While Food and Civil Supplies officials checked prices at which onion and potato are sold in the market, Legal Metrology officials kept a watch on weights and measures.

The prices fixed for potato in Guwahati market are Rs 24-26 per kg, but it is being sold at Rs 30-35 in various markets. Likewise onion should be sold at Rs 65-70 per kg, but it is being sold at Rs 90-100 per kg in various markets in the city.

Legal Metrology officials say that if a commodity is weighed with a beam balance the accuracy of the balance has to be renewed after every two years and after one year if it is weighed with a machine balance. According to the officials, three cases have been registered in today’s raid in Beltola weekly market.

Also Watch: Anti-CAA protests: Tinsukia District Congress demands release of party workers