Centre reviews availability and prices of onions

He reviewed the availability, prices, import and export of onions and directed officers to take quick action to bring prices under control.

Paswan also wrote a letter to the Chief Ministers of the states requesting them to enforce stock limit on onions and strengthen anti-holding drive to ensure its availability.

Later, Secretary, Consumer Affairs held a meeting with officers of the Department of Agriculture, Commerce and Government of Delhi as well as representatives of SFAC, NAFED, Mother Dairy and NHRDC among others.

Secretary, Consumer Affairs desired that likewise the PSFMC meeting for onions may be called for Aug 27 itself after opening of tenders so that quick decision can be taken on the import of Onions.

MMTC representative also informed that pre-tender enquires are very encouraging. He said after the tenders are finalized, onions could be brought by 10th September, 2015.

"After detailed discussion, it was decided that joint Surveillance teams of Departmental Consumer Affairs and Departmental Agriculture will inspects the centres where Onions are being distributed in Delhi to check on the quality, quantity and prices of Onions," read a government statement.

It was decided that a core team consisting of officials of Consumer Affairs, Agriculture, MMTC, SFAC and NAFED would be video conferencing with the States, once the tenders were opened to ascertain requirements of the States and also the modalities of reaching the stocks to the states and the mechanism of retail distribution in the states.