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Despite skyrocketing price of onions, many onion packets at Rs 45 a kg in fair price shops here remain unsold, making the district administration rethink about the initiative.
While these shops were provided 71.5 quintal of onions on August 14 after its price skyrocketed to Rs 60 a kg, only 51 quintal have been sold so far.
"The 37 outlets were provided 145 packets (71.5 quintal) of onions. Till yesterday, 102 packets (around 51 quintal) were sold," assistant civil supplies officer, Berhampur, Purushottam Lenka, said.
While seven outlets have exhausted their quota, there have been few takers at the other shops. "Onions are now being sold in the open market at Rs 48 to 55 a kg, depending on the quality. The customers also get to pick good quality onions there," a retail shop owner said.
"I cannot take the pain to go to the ration shop to buy just half-a-kg of a commodity at a little price difference," said Shankar Rao, a resident.
The lukewarm response has made the district administration rethink on providing more onions to such shop
According to traders, the onion price is likely to fall in the next few days as onions from Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh would reach Berhampur market.
