By NNN-PTI
New Delhi : Anticipating rise in prices of onions in the capital in view of short supply from Haryana and Rajasthan in near future, the Delhi government has approached the Centre demanding a ban on export of the bulb.
Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit recently met Union Agriculture Minsiter Sharad Pawar urging him to ban onion export from Maharashtra and re-direct the vegetable to the capital to keep the prices steady here.
According to Braham Yadav, Chairman of Delhi Agriculture Marketing Board, if Maharashtra onion produce is not routed towards Delhi soon, prices will shot up tremendously in the city due to shortage of the vegetable.
"Presently Delhi's demand for the tuber is met by Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Haryana. However, in the next fortnight Rajasthan and Haryana will stop supply because of lower output due to adverse weather conditions there," Yadav told PTI here.
He also warned that the middlemen might take advantage of the situation if timely and appropriate steps are not taken to meet the impending crisis.
Presently, onion consumption in the capital is 400 tonnes per day.
Supply from Rajasthan and Haryana is estimated at 1,300 tonnes and 200 tonnes daily, enough to meet the present demand, he added.
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