GURUGRAM: Rising fuel prices and increasing transportation costs have led to fresh hikes in prices of food staples in the city over the past one week. The prices of rice, edible oil, sugar, pulses and other such essentials that form the food basket have gone up by anything between 10% and 50%.
While tea leaves have seen the maximum hike at 50%, the price of edible oil has risen between 20% and 30% over the past few days. Most traders have attributed this hike to a rise in diesel prices and the subsequent increase in transportation costs. But some have also pointed out that supply trucks have been charging them more because the vehicles are having to take circuitous routes as major highways are blocked due to the farmers’ agitation.
A shortage of supply of essential items also has a role to play in this hike. Since trucks are stuck on several highways because of the farmers’ protests, it has hit the supply chain. All the more at a time restaurants and eateries have started to open after the lockdown, which has shot up demand for food items. When the transport sector is already hit because of the agitation, the price of diesel has risen by over Rs 2 in the past two weeks. In the city, a litre of diesel sold for Rs 74.48 on January 14, compared to Rs 76.83 this Sunday.
Raju Saini, a wholesale grocery supplier in Sadar Bazar, said the prices of almost all food items had gone up in the past two weeks. “Rice generally comes from West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh and Punjab, while Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh supply pulses. Transportation costs have increased by anything between Rs 8,000 and Rs 20,000 in the past three weeks. As a result, we have had to increase the price of rice and pulses by around Rs 5 a kg,” he said. “The farmers’ protests in areas around Delhi have also forced trucks to make long detours. This has also led to spiraling transport costs,” Saini added.
It is the consumers who are feeling the pinch. While basmati rice from Punjab cost Rs 70 a kilo in the wholesale market a few weeks ago, it is now selling for Rs 85. “Retailers are selling it for Rs 120 to Rs 180 a kg.” a trader said. Toor dal, which cost Rs 50 a kg in the wholesale markets earlier, is now Rs 80 a kg. The rates of gram and moong daal have shot up by Rs 10-18 for every kg.
“Mustard oil was available for Rs 85 to Rs 90 per litre. The cost now is Rs 105 in the wholesale market and Rs 135 in retail stores,” a trader in Sadar Bazar said. “Similarly, the price of sugar has gone up from Rs 45-50 a kg. Premium quality sugar is being sold for Rs 60 a kg,” he added.
Kuldeep Rai Gupta, chairman of the Retail Karyana Merchants’ Association, said the overall Consumer Food Price Index (CFPI) and the inflation rate of pulses had been increasing constantly. “The rise in prices of pulses and edible oils has been attributed to short supply, damage to crops during the monsoon, hike in minimum support price and increase in demand after the opening of restaurants. These apart, diesel rates have also gone up manifold. If the price of fuel shoots up further, the situation will worsen. The government should step in at this juncture,” he added.