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Cuttack/Bhubaneswar: After bearing the brunt of lockdown, the sharp increase in the vegetable prices in the last few weeks have hit the consumers of twin cities Cuttack and Bhubaneswar hard.
Prices of almost all vegetables at Chhatra Bazar in Cuttack and Unit-1 in Bhubaneswar are hovering between Rs 60 and Rs 80 per kg. Similarly, the rate of kitchen essentials like potatoes and onions are also skyrocketing.
While the price of beans has neared Rs 100-mark, brinjalis being sold at Rs 70, spiny gourd is priced at Rs 60, ladyfinger at 60, cabbage at Rs 45, bitter gourd and pointed gourd at Rs 60, said reports.
The retail vendors attributed the surge in the prices to the reduction in supply due to nationwide lockdown and then the recent flood in several parts of the State.
A retail vendor of Chhatra Bazar said “Floods damaged vegetable cultivation at several places in Odisha this year. Therefore, we are importing vegetables from outside the State which has led to the sharp rise in the prices. Rate of every vegetable has increased by Rs 20-30.”
“Flood destroyed vegetable cultivation in Athagarh and Banki. Besides, the supply has also drastically reduced from Sambalpur and Bargarh districts which has led to the rise of rates of vegetables in Bhubaneswar,” claimed a vegetable vendor.
“No vegetable is below Rs 60. I bought spiny gourd at Rs 60, brinjal at Rs 70, ladyfinger at 70, cabbage at Rs 50 and tomatoes at Rs 40. With no alternation, we have cut down on the quantity,” said a consumer in Cuttack.
Another customer at Unit-I in Bhubaneswar said, “The rates of vegetables are very high. Capsicums are being sold at Rs 120 per kg and beans at Rs 80. No vegetable is less than Rs 50.”
(Edited By Rashmi Ranjan Mohanty)
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