Delhi Government is going to set up a price forecast mechanism for vegetables and food grains, to keep the prices of these commodities stable in the city.
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has directed the Food and Supplies Department to institute a mechanism which can forecast prices of vegetables and food items for at least eight to ten weeks in advance.
"So far there is no scientific mechanism which can determine or forecast the price of food products in the city. Delhi's own production of vegetables is minuscule. Most of the essential vegetables like potatoes, onions and tomatoes are bought from other states.
"In the past, we have seen prices of these vegetables going sky high causing inconvenience to public. So we will soon set up price forecast mechanism which will analyse the market situation and weather and suggest the government on stocking up of food products," a senior officer in the Food and Supplies Department told PTI.
At present, the department expects good crop of potato and expect the supply to remain normal. But unseasonal rains have damaged many crops, which may cause increase in prices.
"Setting up forecast mechanism will also end black- marketing and stocking of products. This mechanism will alert the government in advance about shortage and excess supply of vegetables. So the government will be prepared in advance to meet the food requirement of the city and will stock vegetables and food products," the officer said.
The Chief Minister had at a recent rally warned black- marketers and said that the government was fully prepared to meet the food demand of the city and have stocked enough supply of essential commodities.
"If black-marketeers will try to stock products and try to inflate the price, then we will open our godowns causing heavy loss to them," Kejriwal had said in a rally in Bawana area.
