Prices of essential commodities sky high June 26, 2013 Tomatoes @ Rs 50, potatoes @ Rs 30/kg TEAM HERALD teamherald@herald-goa PANJIM: Amid a Himalayan Tsunami of inflation, hike in every tariff from electricity, water, to stamp duties and every government form, Goans have suddenly realized that Rs 100 does not have the same purchasing power that it had the previous month. Prices of essential commodities have shot up astronomically. Prices of vegetables, chicken and beef have shot through the roof. Mutton has shot to a whooping Rs 400, the much preferred beef has scaled to Rs 200 upwards. The sparse availability of beef supplies have seen their prices increase by around Rs 50 per kg with bhendi costing Rs 250 and undercut costing Rs 300. Chicken costs Rs 130-140 a kg and eggs have touched Rs 50 per dozen. Tomatoes have shot up to Rs 50 per kg, potatoes hover around Rs 30-35 and beans cost almost Rs 80 per kg. Mackerel recheido is available at Rs 70 a piece ~ normally available for around Rs 20-30 in restaurants, in the wake of the entry tax, which has also affected the vegetables and foodstuffs such as milk, flowers and eggs which come from across the border. However, prawns are available at a reasonable rate as prices have not risen much. Medium sized prawns are available for Rs 300 per kg. But besides a few varieties of fish that are not available due to trawlers not venturing out to sea, fish is generally available though not in very large quantities. The state has been facing a lot of strain on its supply lines on the vegetable front because of the entry tax mooted by the government. However, the problem has been temporarily sorted out even though the final solution has still not come. Even the prices of corriander costing Rs 20. “These prices have started going up for the past 2 month,” says Pradip, who sells vegetables in the suburbs, even as he says that there is no shortage in the state. However, beef sellers are facing a hard time and argue that the government is not helping to sort out their problem and supply has been and is a major problem after the order by the High Court on the workings of the Goa Meat Complex, import and slaughter of cattle. The state is home to a large population of Christians and Muslims who eat beef as part of regular diet and as a source of nourishment. However, the prices of fish have seen unprecedented hike, not seen in recent history. The fishing ban has added to the misery of fish eaters. Prices of pomfrets have crossed the Rs 1000 per kg mark, a 45 cms chonak (sea perch) would cost Rs 2500 which prices having breached the Rs 550 per kg mark and kingfish would cost Rs 450 a kg as fish from outside the state makes its way into Goan markets. Prawns from farms are the only commodity, which have left the prices at reasonably affordable level for the middle class even though they are stiff compared to a few months ago.
Posted on: Wed, 26 Jun 2013 09:44:11 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015