Government steps push essential items' prices down

The prices of fruits and vegetables have started showing falling trend in Ramazan following the price control measures taken by the government, a survey conducted after visits of several weekly bazars in the city on Tuesday and Wednesday. Buyers were almost in shock over the ruling prices of fruits and vegetables, said sellers with slight smiles.
Some times, buyers repeat their questions for the rates as they were not imagining decline in rates.
At a weekly bazar in the close proximity of Aladin Park, one of the buyers, who had bought two-dozen of banana after knowing the cheap rates, he said: "I was really confused over the ruling prices of the vegetables and fruits.
In the early days of Ramazan, bananas were available at Rs 35-40 per dozen, but now sellers are demanding only Rs 20-30, it's a good change because a common man can afford it.
Apples in good shapes were available at Rs 25-30, showing a fall of Rs 5-10 for per kg. Dates were also available at Rs 15-20.
Watermelon prices also came down from Rs 30-45 per kg to Rs 20-30. Guava rates showed sharp slide in the local markets came down from Rs 40-45 per kg to Rs25-30, sellers at UP More said.
The bazars are flooded with fruits and vegetables on easy supplies despite transportation problems as people have started leaving for their destinations to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr with their relatives, said sellers at a weekly bazar at University Road close to Nipa roundabout.
As a result of the soaring food items prices, hundreds of inspection teams visited the shops and weekly bazars in several parts of the city on the directives of the government, dealers at Sadar market said.
Rates also came down partly because of people attitudes because, they felt that due to higher prices they (consumers or buyers) just asked the prices and kept on the sidelines.
Potatoes were available at Rs 30-40 per kg in the beginning of Ramazan but now available at Rs 10-15, coriander leaves were rare few days back but now are available at Rs 2-3 per bundle instead of Rs 6-8.
Onion prices show modest as were available at Rs 9-10 instead of Rs 12-15 a kg, sellers said.
Garlic prices are available at Rs 70-80 per kg instead of Rs 100-120 some time back, ginger followed the suit. In the meantime, chicken prices have started going up as in the beginning of Ramazan, chicken meat per kg was available at Rs 90-100 but now sellers are asking for 120-130 ahead of Eid-ul-fitr.