PANJIM: In a bid to assist the people, who have been left teary-eyed due to the skyrocketing price of onions, the State government on Thursday sanctioned Rs 15 crore as subsidy to the Horticulture Corporation to clear pending bills of suppliers. 

Horticulture Corporation chairman Pravin Zantye and other officials met Chief Minister Pramod Sawant over the spiralling price of onions. The corporation demanded release of the pending Rs 34 crore subsidy.

Speaking to media persons post meeting, Zantye said the Chief Minister has sanctioned Rs 15 crore, of the pending Rs 34 crore, to the corporation. “Once the amount is credited into the Corporation account, the pending bills of onion suppliers will be cleared,” he said. 

Zantye expressed confidence that post payment of bills, onion prices may drop in horticulture outlets, where the onion are being sold at Rs 129 per kg. The market rate is Rs 170 per kg, he said. 

Zantye said that despite non-payment of bills to suppliers for the last five months, the Corporation was still providing onions at Rs 41 less per kg, compared to the market price. “Now, with the payment, the prices will further come down. The Corporation has been trying to procure onions at Rs 65 per kg and for this the process has already started,” he said. 

He said how there are a few agents who are willing to supply onions at cheaper rates but reiterated that they need to pay them upfront.