Chennai, Sept 2:
A second dedicated railway rake carrying 840 tonnes of onion from the Centre’s buffer stock reached Chennai on August 31, with the Tamil Nadu government planning to distribute the onions through the Public Distribution System (PDS).
The Consumer Affairs Ministry said the State would distribute 1 kg of onion per ration card, with supplies expected to reach various districts across Tamil Nadu.
The consignment, transported under the Centre’s ‘Kanda Express’ initiative, was dispatched from Nashik, Maharashtra, the country’s major onion-producing and trading hub.
The move is part of the Centre’s efforts to increase onion availability and prevent seasonal price escalation by releasing buffer stocks through a combination of rail and road transportation.
Around 1,000 tonnes of onions are also being transported by road to major consumption centres based on prevailing market conditions and price trends.
Retail intervention has been expanded to 19 cities, including Chennai and Madurai. Onions from the buffer stock are being sold at a subsidised price of Rs 35 per kg through NCCF, NAFED, Kendriya Bhandar outlets and mobile vans.
The Centre had maintained a buffer stock of 1.21 lakh tonnes of onion for the current year.
The government said prices had declined after the disposal of buffer stocks began on August 24 and that further supplies were expected to help maintain price stability.
So far, about 669 tonnes of onions had been sold through bulk and retail channels, while Rs 210 crore had been paid directly to around 3,400 onion farmers.
The Centre said security measures had also been put in place during the transportation and distribution of the large onion consignments to prevent leakages and other irregularities.