TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: The ongoing strike by inter-state transporters has led to a shortage of vegetables in many parts of the State while prices of available stocks have also risen sharply in the markets.
Government supplies were quickly exhausted and vendors fear the situation could get serious if the stalemate between the State government and striking transporters continues beyond the weekend.
The strike however had virtually no impact in the capital city as vegetable vendors in Panjim did normal business on Wednesday.
VASCO: The strike has had a major impact in the port town with most vegetables virtually disappearing from the shelves of various sellers.
Apart from potatoes, tomatoes and onions, other vegetables were not available and vegetable vendors, hopeful of a fresh supply on Wednesday morning, were left high and dry as trucks loaded with fresh vegetables were blocked at the wholesale vegetable market at Belgaum.
Speaking to Herald, vegetable vendors said the market in Belgaum remains closed every Monday and they were hopeful that trucks would come with fresh vegetables on Wednesday morning.
“Since the trucks loaded with fresh vegetables were blocked at Belgaum, we could not receive these supplies on Wednesday. Except for onions, tomatoes and potatoes, the other vegetables are almost over and will not be sufficient till Thursday,” remarked a vendor.
“We received government supplies but they were insufficient and they got exhausted quickly. If the stalemate between the government and the transport union does not end by Thursday, we will have to close down ours stalls,” feared the vendor.
Vegetable prices have also shot up and customers have been left with little choice but to be content with a bare minimum supply of vegetables.
BICHOLIM: During the weekly Bazaar Day at Bicholim, people were in for a rude shock as only a few vegetable vendors were present in the market. The bazaar was almost deserted and the few vegetable vendors present were selling their wares at a very high price.
“Today, vegetable prices have almost doubled. Taking advantage of the vegetable scarcity in the market, vendors have seized this opportunity and have raised the price of every item by Rs 10 or Rs 20,” complained a resident of Bicholim.
Added Govind Phadke: “Even if there are no vegetables in the market, there won’t be any problem for many households as they can get it from their own fields or gardens. We feel that shortage of vegetables will mostly affect the hotels.”
MAPUSA: Vegetables were available at the Mapusa market but prices had risen sharply over anticipated shortage of vegetables.
Chillies were being sold at Rs 50 to 80 per kg, while tomatoes and potatoes were also likely to shoot up from the present rate of 30 per kg. Traders also told Herald that onions could well be in short supply within a day or two.
PONDA: Vegetable prices hit an all-time high in Ponda on Wednesday, even as prices doubled due to the shortage.
The price of carrots touched Rs 80 a kilo and French beans shot up to Rs 100, while other vegetables were also sold at double the normal rates.
Vendors were hopeful of getting vegetable supplies on Thursday provided protestors did not block Goa-bound vehicles at the border.
Meanwhile, around 35 trucks containing various vegetables for the Horticulture Corporation arrived in the State on Wednesday.
