Bhubaneswar, Oct 11: Consumers in Odisha are facing a fresh round of price hikes in essential commodities, with sugar, pulses, rice and milk becoming costlier ahead of the festive season.

Sugar prices have increased by Rs300–Rs500 per quintal, rising from around Rs5,000 to Rs5,300–Rs5,500. Retail prices have reached Rs60 per kilogram.

Toor dal prices have surged by Rs500–Rs700 per quintal, crossing Rs14,000 in some markets. Retail prices now range between Rs142 and Rs150 per kilogram. Chana dal prices have also increased by Rs600–Rs700 per quintal.

Rice prices have risen as well. Fine rice has become costlier by Rs800–Rs1,000 per quintal, while super-fine rice prices have increased by Rs1,000–Rs1,500. Basmati rice is now selling at Rs170 per kilogram. Omfed milk prices have also gone up by Rs2–Rs4 per litre.

According to traders, Odisha depends heavily on supplies from other states to meet its demand for sugar and pulses. The state requires around nine lakh tonnes of sugar and 9.3 lakh tonnes of pulses annually.

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Prashant Kumar Patra, joint general secretary of the Cuttack Merchants’ Association, confirmed the rise in wholesale prices at Malgodown. Sudhakar Panda, general secretary of the Odisha Byabasayi Mahasangha, said corporate entities played a significant role in determining market prices and urged the government to intervene.

The continued rise in essential commodity prices has added to household expenses, increasing concerns among consumers during the festive season.