Tomatoes shoot up to Rs 300 a kilo in Tricity
Days after heavy rains flooded houses, damaged bridges and roads, Tricity received another shocker when the prices of vegetables shot through the roof. With the floods causing a heavy loss to vegetables and fruits, the price of tomatoes, cauliflowers, cabbages, capsicum, has reached an astonishing Rs. 300 per kilogram.
Potatoes, onions, gourds, and bitter gourds are not far behind, being sold at Rs. 40, 30, 70, and 80 per kilogram, respectively. These prices are among the highest in the entire country.
When asked about the reasons behind this price surge in Chandigarh, Brij Mohan, President of the Sabji Mandi Arthiya Association, blamed the present administration for their failure to provide adequate storage facilities for vegetables. According to him, farmers initially had access to storage sheds, but the administration seized the space, leaving them vacant. As a result, tomatoes were spoiled under the scorching sun, and now all the produce has been swept away by the floods.
The consequences are weighing heavy on households, which are now forced to bear the brunt of poor-quality crops. Sandeep, a resident of Sector 12 in Panchkula, laments, “I bought almost ruined tomatoes and cauliflowers at Rs. 200 per kilogram. I wish there was an alternative, but unfortunately, there isn’t.”
Rita, a resident of Sector 15 in Chandigarh, shares her frustration, saying, “We bought our weekly vegetables today for Rs. 700, whereas last week we paid only half that amount. July is proving to be a very challenging month, and the surge in prices of basic vegetables is exacerbating the situation.”
Even local restaurants are feeling the pinch of this price surge. Vikram K, the owner of a diner, reveals, “While we anticipate price increases during the monsoon season, this year has been particularly harsh. Last week, we purchased vegetables for Rs. 1,000, and this time, the cost soared to Rs. 1,600.”
However, Brij Mohan offers a glimmer of hope, assuring that prices will soon decrease. “Since the weather has been clear for some time now, we have ordered vegetables from Bangalore and Indore, and hopefully, we will be able to supply enough produce at a reasonable price,” he says.
