Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 30: In yet another grave act of discrimination, the Government is selling onion @ Rs 33 per kg in Kashmir and Rs 40 in Jammu through sale network of the Department of Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs.
Official sources told the Excelsior that in view of the shortage of onions in India and provide some relief to the public from its sky rocketing price, the Centre had imported huge quantity of onions from Turkey recently. A consignment was also sent to the J&K UT.
The Government decided to provide onions through ration card to the CAPD consumers, like kerosene oil, rice and Atta. A scale of 2 kg onions per ration card has been fixed. It was also decided that initially the CAPD will provide onions in the Municipal limits of Srinagar and Jammu. The vehicles loaded with onions will be parked at main points in different city locations where CAPD staff would sell onion to the consumers after checking their ration card.
Interestingly, on the first day of this new experiment of selling onions by CAPD staff today, there was no good response at all. Most of the people were not aware as there was no publicity at all. Moreover, the people were not showing interest in purchasing Turkey onion. They said it is now available in Mandi and all vegetables shops at the rate of Rs 45 to 48 and they are selling at the rate of Rs 33. It has been learnt that in Kashmir Govt is selling onions at the rate of Rs 33 per kg and then why @ Rs 40 in Jammu.
Director, FCS&CA Jammu, Jitender Singh when asked how much onions they are going to distribute among public in the region, said as per the Govt order, they have been directed to distribute onions only within JMC limits. They have sent 250 quintal of onion imported from Turkey and department officials would park load carriers at different places in the city on rotational basis and will provide 2 kg onion per ration card holder.
When asked why there is so much difference in rate in Kashmir and Jammu while, in Kashmir with carriage charges onions should be costlier as compared to Jammu, the Director said the department staff in Kashmir and Jammu conducted market survey and then fixed the rate. Moreover, the rate has been approved by the Administrative Department and he has no role to play in it. He further said that onion distribution would go on for at least next one week.
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