Monday, 17 JULY 2023 | PNS | DEHRADUN
The Dehradun district administration has formed a team for monitoring the prices of tomatoes after getting complaints of overpricing in retail markets. The team was formed on the orders of district magistrate Sonika to ensure consumers do not have to pay exorbitant prices for the already expensive tomatoes, said additional district magistrate (administration) Shiv Kumar Barnwal. The soaring prices of tomatoes have forced people to either tighten their budgets or reduce their consumption. The retail prices are consistently increasing in various parts of the district and in some places, tomatoes are being sold at around Rs 300 per kilogramme. Barnwal said that officials of wholesale markets of vegetables and fruits have informed the administration that retailers are getting tomatoes at Rs 60 to Rs 80 per kilogramme and even if they add additional charges, selling them at Rs 150 or Rs 200 per kilogramme and above is not justified. The retailers are selling tomatoes in the market at higher prices claiming that they are getting them at exorbitant prices in the Mandi itself which is wrong. The ADM said that to prevent retailers from profiteering, the retailers will be allowed to sell tomatoes at the prices between Rs 100 and Rs 110 per kilogramme. He said that a team consisting of sub divisional magistrates, police station in-charges and Mandi inspectors will check the prices in their respective areas and act against sellers for profiteering under relevant acts.
On Sunday, a team conducted inspection of some areas including Moti Bazaar, Jhanda Chowk and Tehsil Chowk and also pasted the rate list of tomatoes as per their quality available in the market. Authorities found a considerable decline in tomato rates on Sunday. The Niranjanpur Mandi Samiti had also installed four counters to sell tomatoes at discounted price of Rs 70 per kilogramme on July 8. The ADM said that a family is allowed to buy only two kilogrammes of tomatoes in a day which has also brought some relief to locals. Barnwal said it is expected that prices of tomatoes will drop soon as per the Mandi Samiti officials and till then, administration will ensure no consumer has to pay high rates for tomatoes unnecessarily.
