Bhubaneswar, June 25: The Odisha government is mulling to control soaring prices of essential commodities through central agency National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation (NAFED), said Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Krushna Chandra Patra on Monday.
The minister reviewd the prevailing prices of essential commodities for the second consecutive day yesterday.
The government has no control over prices of potato and onion as Odisha is dependent on other states. Odisha largely depends on Assam and West Bengal to meet potato requirement and onion is imported from Andhra Pradesh and Nassik in Maharashtra, said the minister.
The wholesale price of onion in Odisha is Rs 32 to Rs 34 per kg following which traders are selling it at Rs 40 per kg. Action will be taken if they take more than Rs 40 per kg.
The department is regularly monitoring market price and stock of potato and onion. It has been directed to take action against hoarders according to law, said the minister.
However, the department has no control on vegetable prices. It depends on production volume. Coldstores will be opened in every block to check the soaring prices of vegetables, he added.
