PANJIM, JAN 6
The stocks in 350-odd outlets run by Goa State Horticulture Development Corporation ran dry as supply of vegetables from Belgaum was stopped since Wednesday afternoon.
Corporation’s chairman Sankalp Amonkar said that the negotiations are on to ensure that the wholesalers resume the supply but ‘political jealousy’ by BJP has created impediments.
The corporation gets around 120 tones of vegetables from Belgaum market which is sold at subsidized rates through 350 outlets. Amonkar said that with the onion prices up-scaling and corporation offering onions at cheaper price, the popularity of the outlets have gone up.
“This is what is bugging many BJP leaders in Karnataka and Goa’s opposition parties. There were three BJP legislators and a BJP MP in Belgaum who were insisting that the vegetable supply to the corporation should be stalled,” the chairman alleged. He said that the corporation has been providing 10 different kinds of vegetables at a cheaper rate to the consumers and has also added fruits to its itinerary. “We have begun selling these chemical free fruits,” Amonkar said.
The corporation feels that their popularity graph has increased tremendously giving mileage to Digambar Kamat led government in the state which has irked BJP. “Many of our staff is working at a lower pay scale relentlessly. What corporation is achieving now is just because of the staff who gets up as early as 4:30 am and transport vegetables to the outlets,” Amonkar said.
The corporation has said that they had managed to bring just 25 tones of vegetables from Belgaum on Thursday and the shelves were wearing empty look by afternoon. Amonkar said that they will have to get the supply from other cities like Kolhapur or Mumbai if Belgaum crisis continues.
“Even if we procure the vegetables from other destinations, we will ensure that the prices are not hiked,” he said adding that the chief minister has strongly backed the corporation, who is reaching to the commonest person on the street. The chairman said that the corporation’s efforts have given a major setback to the vegetable sellers who were inflating the prices earlier.
“There is a strong resentment amongst them but what we are concerned is that the common man on the street is happy,” Amonkar added. Amonkar also said that the corporation carts selling fruits at lower price as compared to open market rates are in huge demand.
The corporation in its fresh initiative has begun selling imported fruits on its existing carts across the State from January 5 onwards. Atleast 10 types of fruits alongside vegetables were decided to be sold on the same cart but the corporation is selling five types of fruits to begin with.
While a kilo of each fruit including sweet lime is being sold at Rs 40, oranges at Rs 45, grapes at Rs 65, apples at Rs 75 chickoos are quoted at Rs 45.
The Corporation has roped in a Mumbai based firm to supply fresh and healthy fruits to these carts, which will be chemical-free.
