Rupsa: Onion peeling or chopping no longer bringing tears to the eyes. Now, it is the skyrocketing of its prices, which actually brings tears. Onion has become dearer with the cost of a kilogram hovering between Rs 55 and Rs 60.
Reportedly, onion prices have gone up drastically across Balasore district compounding woes of the consumers who have alleged that the government has remained unmoved over the issue.
No doubt, the consumers are feeling the pinch after the price of onion went up to `30-40 per kilogram within a week from Rs 20-25/kilo all over creating apprehension among consumers of a further price rise in the near future.
A few days back, consumers had bought onion for Rs 30/kilo in Rupsa market, but now it is priced at `60/kilo, which has forced them to either reduce its consumption or abandon it altogether.
Most of the poor families who depend upon rice, potato and onion for their daily food intake, now refuse to buy the bulb as the tear-jerker takes away all their money for buying the kitchen essentials.
A home-maker said she has to think twice before using onion while preparing food, in view of the present rates.
The traders, on the other hand, attributed the price hike to non-availability of new stocks in the market.
According to sources, the state depends on Nashik market in Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh for onion and the recent floods have caused damage to onion crop in these areas affecting its import to Odisha.
Meanwhile, the cost of vegetables also jumped by nearly 50 per cent, putting a strain on household expenses.
Kailash a social worker of Rupsa said, as there is no regulation imposed on traders, they are practising monopoly over price the commodity and its price.
However, the traders opined that if the government facilitates sale of onion at the model fair-price (Maitree) shops, consumers can avail onions at mandi-price.