New Delhi (NVI): The Centre has approved the import of 11000 metric tonnes of onions to tide over the situation, which are expected to be delivered by last week of December.
Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba informed yesterday that the decision of the government to import 6090 metric tonnes of onions from Egypt on November 22. The deliveries, however, are expected from second week of December.
While chairing a meeting of the Committee of Secretaries to review the issue of rising prices of onions across the country, Gauba directed the States that the overall availability of the onions has to be beefed up to stabilise the prices.
The Centre has already taken a decision on not allowing the export of onions during the current season, he further added.
In a video conference held with the Chief Secretaries of the 11 major onion producing states, the Cabinet Secretary was briefed about the various steps being taken by the States to tackle the rising prices of onions.
Chief Secretaries from Maharashtra, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Telangana, Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana participated in the video conference.
The States were further directed to maintain considerable buffer stocks, impose stock limits on traders and to ensure strict action against hoarding.
Cabinet Secretary has also directed states to utilise their food and civil supply departments to procure and distribute onions at reasonable prices.
The meeting was also attended by the Secretaries of Consumer Affairs, Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Food & Public Distribution along with other senior officials.
