Jamshedpur: After rising prices of onion, customers in the Steel City find another kitchen essential -- mustard oil -- burning a hole in their pocket during the festive and marriage season. Dhalbhum SDO and Krishi Utpadan Bazaar Samity Parsudih president Nitish Kumar Singh said he has ordered a probe and instructed the officials concerned to submit a report in this regard.
Shopkeepers in several markets across the city said most brands of mustard oil, which were going for Rs 80 to Rs 105 a litre last October, have shot up to as much as Rs 138. Sources attributed the increase to the government intensifying vigilance on adulteration of edible oils.
Manufacturers and shopkeepers said the price of mustard oil has been rising steadily since January, when it jumped to Rs 115 to Rs 120. There was a marginal drop after fresh mustard crop reached the mandi in the February, but the price spiked again after the lockdown came in force.
A staple in every Bengali kitchen, many households are looking for alternates to cut down their use of mustard oil. Homemaker Sumi Roy, who uses around eight litres of mustard oil every month, said, “This month, I paid around Rs 120 extra for it. With the prices of onion touching Rs 70 per kg along with Rs 40 for potato, our kitchen budget is stretched to the maximum. Most vegetables are out of our reach and cooking fish or mutton has now become a luxury.”
The price rise has also hit roadside food joints and retail shopkeepers with the vendors saying the number of their customers has fallen in the last few weeks.