Failure of Hyderabad district administration: Lockdown-hit people face skyrocketing prices of essential commodities

The prices of most essential commodities, especially seasonal vegetables and fruits continue to rise unabated in the Hyderabad city at the crucial time of lockdown due to the absence of an efficient and effective price control mechanism.

A survey of markets and bazaars showed that vendors, in collusion with market committee officials, had raised the prices of almost all seasonal vegetables and fruits, taking the benefit of lockdown which was continued across the country in a bid to halt the proliferation of coronavirus pandemics (COVID-19). Onions, a commonly used ingredient, are being sold for up to Rs 40/kg in retail markets while the price of the vegetable has been fixed between Rs25 and Rs30/kg. In addition, lady-fingers is sold Rs100 to 120/kg while it is selling Rs30-40/kg, ridge gourd Rs160-170/kg while it is available for sale for Rs40-45/kg, green capsicum Rs.80-90/kg instead of Rs.40-45/kg in common days. Papaya, a seasonal fruit is also sold costly nowadays. It's available in retail market Rs120 to Rs150/kg instead of Rs60-80/kg, water melon Rs50-60/kg instead of Rs25 to Rs40/kg, melon Rs60-70/kg instead of Rs40 to 50/kg and sweet-lime Rs120 to 150/kg instead of Rs70 to 80 in common days.

Several citizens of Hyderabad have complained that vendors are selling a mixed variety of onions, peas, green capsicum, lady-finger, cucumber, ridge gourd, cauliflower and other vegetables as well as fruits at bazaars and charging locals the price for the sorted variety.

Speaking to Business Recorder, a citizen of Hyderabad Shahzad Soomro explained that because of lockdown and deteriorating coronavirus situation; the residents were not able to throng to the Sabzi Mandi to buy the vegetable and fruits of their choice on suitable rates, the vendors he said were charging the prices of their own will from the customers. Another citizen Advocate Muhammad Ali said that lockdown-hit people were leading a miserable life due to losing their private jobs, businesses and small enterprises, but the officials of food department and district government seemed to be in deep sleep and lethargy. "The prices of essential commodities are sky rocking but no district or local government action is being taken to deal with the situation," he said.