TEAM HERALD
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PANJIM: Even as Goa continues to be adamant over the imposition of entry tax on outside vehicles, people doing their daily market rounds had to pinch their pockets while buying vegetables on Monday.
In the capital city, prices of beans and coriander jumped double fold, while rates of other vegetables too increased marginally ~ a jump of Rs 5 to 8 from the previous rates.
Other than coriander and beans, vendors said there was no shortage of vegetables. The price of coriander rose from Rs 25 to Rs 40, while beans were selling at Rs 60 from the previous Rs 40.
Vendors at the market said prices are likely to rise over the next few days and today’s prices were just an indication. But prices at the horticulture carts continued to remain the same because the regular supply was interrupted.
MARGAO: The commercial town too witnessed vegetable shortage. The hustle and bustle normally associated with the Gandhi market and the SGPDA market was missing today.
Gandhi market vegetable vendors informed that they had not received fresh stocks of vegetables from Belgaum, even as they admitted that prices of vegetables have gone up manifold since the last two days.
Leader of the Gandhi market vegetable vendors, Babu Azgaonkar, said that the markets faced a shortage of vegetables today. This situation may continue till the blockade in Belgaum is lifted by the agitated road transporters, he stated.
Owners of the kiosks run by the Goa Horticulture Corporation informed they had not received fresh stocks of vegetables, adding they had last received supplies on Sunday.
PORVORIM: Prices of essential commodities went up by almost 50 per cent in the Mapusa market due to non-arrival of vegetable trucks from Belgaum and other areas.
Goa Krishi Bazaar Mapusa yard office in-charge Ashok Pednekar informed that they had not received vegetable stocks due to which no supplies could be made to retail outlets at Mapusa, Porvorim, Panjim, Saligao and Candolim.
“The stocks of onions and potatoes that we have will last for a day or two. Goa Krishi Bazaar has got a yearly contract with a supplier in Belgaum. We place the order of essential goods with the supplier as per the daily requirements. If the strike is not withdrawn immediately, the situation will become critical,” said Pednekar.
A stockist of onions and potatoes in Mapusa yard said he had not received supply of onions and potatoes from his supplier in Belgaum. “The rates of entry tax charged by the State government are very high and the same should be reduced,” he opined.
“The State government refunds the entry tax if the vehicle returns within four hours, but some vehicles carrying essential goods from Belgaum or Kolhapur reach Goa at night and they have to wait till morning to get their goods unloaded,” added the stockist.
“The State government should extend the time limit to 12 hours for these trucks to return. The government should also issue monthly passes at affordable rates for the trucks arriving in Goa with essential goods regularly,” said the stockist.
PONDA: Vegetable prices at Ponda market too skyrocketed with carrot prices doubling from 20 to Rs 40 per kg. The prices of other vegetables too have increased by 50 per cent. Other vegetables which have shot up include ladyfinger (from Rs 40 to Rs 60), green chilli (from Rs 40 to Rs 60), ginger (from Rs 80 to Rs 120), beans (from Rs 60 to Rs 100), potato (from Rs 20 to Rs 24) and brinjal (from Rs 30 to Rs 40). However, there was no change in the prices of tomato, cabbage and onion.
According to information, vendors at Ponda market have vegetable stocks to last for only one or two days. “It is becoming difficult for the common man to buy vegetable these days and from tomorrow onwards prices are expected to rise further. Vegetable will be beyond the reach of the common man,” said Bhudwarpeth Vyapari Sanghatana President, Shankar Naik.
VASCO: The stoppage of essential commodities from Maharashtra and Karnataka has started to have an effect in the Vasco vegetable market.
Speaking to Herald, vendors at the Vasco vegetable market informed that prices of tomatoes, potatoes, French beans, cauliflower, ginger and fresh coriander had increased, while prices of other vegetables were stable.
Comparing the rates, a vendor said that tomatoes had risen from Rs 20 to Rs 30 per kg, while other vegetables which had also risen included potatoes (from Rs 20 to Rs 24), French beans (from Rs 60 to Rs 120), cauliflower (from Rs 25 to Rs 40), ginger (from Rs 80 to Rs 120) and fresh coriander from (Rs 15 to Rs 40).
The vendors said that wholesalers in Belgaum and Pune had increased their wholesale rates by Rs 5 and the added transportation cost and tax paid at the border added to the steep hike in vegetable prices.
MAYEM: The vegetable market at Bicholim wore a deserted look as no fresh vegetables were available due to the strike called by transport operators. However, plenty of locally grown vegetables were available in the market.
