GANGTOK: The incessant rain in the past few weeks has come with a double whammy. Not only has the National Highway 31A been bearing the brunt of nature’s fury-with numerous landslides and road blocks pock-marking the lifeline to Sikkim-but the Monsoon has also led to a sudden rise in prices of essential commodities in the State.
The prices of vegetables and perishable commodities have sky-rocketed this season, much to the inconvenience of the people of the Capital. And fresh vegetables have become a scarce commodity.
A simple rationale of supply and demand is attributed to this perpetual problem that Gangtok's residents face every year. The vegetable vendors say this seasonal rise of prices is because of inadequate supply of fruits and vegetables triggered by frequent landslides along the NH 31A.
In the last few days, vegetables have become precious commodities. Not only fresh supplies are erratic, the prices leave a big hole in the customers’ pockets. The price of a commonly preferred vegetable-potatoes- has double, with local varieties coming for as much as Rs 18 per kg. Tomatoes and onions are available for Rs 35 and Rs 16 per kg respectively. A vegetable vendor informed that due to frequent landslides along the NH 31A and difficulties in transporting vegetables and fruits all the way from Siliguri to here has led to the price rise.
“In addition, we are faced with the problem of vegetables decaying at a faster rate during this season. A large portion goes waste every day,” he said.
Another vegetable vendor said that convincing the customers to shell out extra bucks for vegetables is most challenging and frustrating. “We often end up in an argument,” she said.
Fruits have also become pricey, because of an increase in the whole sale rates by over Rs 3 to Rs 6 in wholesale depots for fruits and vegetables in Siliguri.
A majority of Gangtok's people are naturally exasperated by this sudden hike in the price of vegetables and fruits.
A housewife who took home a variety of vegetables every week now manages to procure only few of those which are reasonably priced. “If this situation continues, cooking a good meal of vegetables would next to impossible,” she says.
However, sources have revealed that the retail prices of vegetables in Siliguri for potatoes is priced at Rs 9, tomatoes at Rs 20, onions at Rs 12 and cauliflowers at Rs 20 per kg.
This calls for prompt action by the concerned Department. An effective mechanism to control the price rise especially during this season has to be worked out, in order to provide some kind of relief to the consumers.
The prices of vegetables and perishable commodities have sky-rocketed this season, much to the inconvenience of the people of the Capital. And fresh vegetables have become a scarce commodity.
A simple rationale of supply and demand is attributed to this perpetual problem that Gangtok's residents face every year. The vegetable vendors say this seasonal rise of prices is because of inadequate supply of fruits and vegetables triggered by frequent landslides along the NH 31A.
In the last few days, vegetables have become precious commodities. Not only fresh supplies are erratic, the prices leave a big hole in the customers’ pockets. The price of a commonly preferred vegetable-potatoes- has double, with local varieties coming for as much as Rs 18 per kg. Tomatoes and onions are available for Rs 35 and Rs 16 per kg respectively. A vegetable vendor informed that due to frequent landslides along the NH 31A and difficulties in transporting vegetables and fruits all the way from Siliguri to here has led to the price rise.
“In addition, we are faced with the problem of vegetables decaying at a faster rate during this season. A large portion goes waste every day,” he said.
Another vegetable vendor said that convincing the customers to shell out extra bucks for vegetables is most challenging and frustrating. “We often end up in an argument,” she said.
Fruits have also become pricey, because of an increase in the whole sale rates by over Rs 3 to Rs 6 in wholesale depots for fruits and vegetables in Siliguri.
A majority of Gangtok's people are naturally exasperated by this sudden hike in the price of vegetables and fruits.
A housewife who took home a variety of vegetables every week now manages to procure only few of those which are reasonably priced. “If this situation continues, cooking a good meal of vegetables would next to impossible,” she says.
However, sources have revealed that the retail prices of vegetables in Siliguri for potatoes is priced at Rs 9, tomatoes at Rs 20, onions at Rs 12 and cauliflowers at Rs 20 per kg.
This calls for prompt action by the concerned Department. An effective mechanism to control the price rise especially during this season has to be worked out, in order to provide some kind of relief to the consumers.
