No black marketing of onions and tomato reported: Centre
Darpan News Desk IANS, 03 Aug, 2021 10:27 AM
New Delhi, Aug 3 (IANS) The prices of vegetables are determined by the normal market forces of demand and supply as well as production/harvest season, and there has been no report of black marketing of onions and tomato from the states/UTs, the Parliament was informed on Tuesday.
"The prices of vegetables are also influenced by other factors such as disruptions in supply chain, functioning of mandis, rainfall, labour, transportation etc. State governments as well as the Central government continue to exercise powers under the Prevention of Black Marketing and Maintenance of Supplies of Essential Commodities Act, 1980 for preventing such practices," Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Ashwini Kumar Choubey told the Lok Sabha in a written reply.
The government is implementing market information system where the prices of vegetables are collected through Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) mandis and disseminated for its use by the farmers through Agmarknet portal, mobile applications etc. for better price realisation, he said.
To give fair price to the farmers for green vegetables, the government is implementing the scheme of 'Operation Greens' for integrated development of tomato, onion, and potato (TOP) value chain since 2018-19. The major objectives of the scheme inter alia include enhancing value realisation of TOP farmers, price stabilisation for producers and consumers, reduction in post-harvest losses, increase in food-processing capacities and value addition in TOP value chain by creating firm linkages with production clusters.
Further, the government has extended the Short-Term Price Stabilisation Measures from tomato, onion, and potato to another 41 notified crops - fruits and vegetables - with effect from June 11, 2020, the Minister said.
"As on July 19, 2021, total subsidy of Rs 47.66 crore has been released as part of Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan under Operation Greens scheme," he added.
On the occasion of Bhagat Kabir Ji Jayanti, the Chief Minister also announced that his government will soon disburse Rs 560 crore to the landless farm labourers under the Debt Waiver Scheme.
Custom officials at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport here have seized 80 iPhones from two passengers arriving from Sharjah. They found the iPhones worth over Rs 1 crore while checking the luggage of the two passengers who had arrived by flight G9-458 on Wednesday.
The Maharashtra government on Wednesday approved Adani Airport Holdings Ltd (AAHL) to operate the upcoming Navi Mumbai International Airport in the adjoining Thane-Raigad region, an official said here.
The session ensued a detailed discussion about the rising air pollution as well as the steps that need to be taken up by authorities as well as the community to manage the deteriorating air quality.
After Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh met the party panel on the state in the national capital on Tuesday, former Congress President Rahul Gandhi has stepped in to defuse the tension in the state unit. Gandhi has given utmost importance to the state, meeting stake holders who have sought time from him, said sources.
The Delhi police have arrested two men for breaking into a bank in Shahdara area and fleeing with nearly Rs 55 lakh, officials said. Police have also recovered hammer, chisel, and helmets from their possession.
