New Delhi: The Maharashtra government has promised to supply onions on priority basis to Delhi to provide relief to people reeling under high prices of the commodity, Union Food Minister K V Thomas said yesterday.
Retail onion prices, a politically sensitive issue, have risen sharply since July and are still ruling high at Rs 65-80 per kg in the national capital, although the wholesale prices have softened slightly.
In a meeting with Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan and state agriculture minister V K Patil, Thomas discussed the price situation and ways to boost onion supplies in states like Delhi, which is headed for Assembly elections in November.
“The onion issue was discussed with Maharashtra Chief Minister and he has offered to send onions on priority to Delhi. This will help bring down the prices,”Thomas told PTI after the meeting in Mumbai.
The Maharashtra government has offered to supply immediately onions from Nasik and Pune, he said, adding that the Centre has conveyed to the state that cooperative Nafed can be involved for supply and sale of the commodity in the national capital.
The modalities need to be worked out between Delhi and Maharashtra governments, Thomas added.
Maharashtra is the largest onion producer in the country.
Most of onions are stored in the state for consumption in lean season.
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