Prices of pulses, edible oil and onions hiked

GUWAHATI: Consumers in the state have to pay through their noses with the abrupt hike in prices of all pulses by Rs 10 per kg, mustard oil by Rs 10 per litre, and onion by Rs 5 per kg.

Since Monday last, retailers in Guwahati have been selling masur dal at Rs 100 per kg, compared to Rs 90 last week. Moong dal is sold at Rs 103 to Rs 115 per kg based on varieties, and arhar dal at Rs 135-155 per kg based on varieties.

After the hike of Rs 10 per litre, the prices of various brands of mustard oil per litre are: Anupam at Rs 150, Fortune at Rs 136, Dhara at Rs 148, and Engine at Rs 160. Onion is sold at Rs 50 per kg, compared to Rs 45 per kg last week.

When asked about the reasons behind the hike in prices, a wholesaler said, "The prices of all these commodities went up at their sources in the last week of August. The hike at the sources has made us sell them by hiking Rs 10 per kg or per litre."

The retailers, however, expressed their ignorance about the reasons behind the hike in prices. They also said that the prices of rice are going up almost every week.

The price of onion in early August was Rs 40 per kg, rose to Rs 42 in mid-August, Rs 45 at the end of August, and is now Rs 50 per kg.

Significantly, the wholesale and retail rates on display at Pamohi Wholesale Market under the Assam State Agriculture Marketing Board (ASAMB) do not tally with the actual rates in the market. For instance, the retail price of the Bangaluru onion on display at Pamohi wholesale market is Rs 45 per kg, that of Nasik is Rs 35, and that of Patna is Rs 40. However, nowhere in Guwahati can consumers buy these varieties of onions at these rates.

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