Mumbai: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 24 announced a complete lockdown in India to curb the spread of the Coronavirus. Soon after the announcement, there was panic buying of groceries and vegetables by the people who took to the streets in droves defying the authorities. Small traders, shopkeepers, hawkers raked in the moolah as there is no authority present to reign in the small traders and hawkers supplying essentials at sky high prices.
The central and state government repeatedly assured the people that all the essential commodities will be available in abundance and there is no need to panic. But the chaos and panic buying has spiked the prices of essential products.
In Mira Road’s Naya Nagar area, the prices of vegetables are skyrocketing, tomato which was selling at Rs 20 Kg is now selling at Rs 60 Kg and the prices differ from shop to shop. Chicken which was selling at Rs 40 Kg a few weeks earlier is now being sold at Rs 300 Kg, Beans are being sold at Rs 120 Kg, Onions at Rs 60 Kg, Grapes at Rs 140 and Apples at Rs 240.
Even though the prices are high people are still standing in the queue to buy them because these are essential commodities and are used on a daily basis. Just within one week, the prices of all essential items have gone through the roof. The traders and hawkers are arguing that the prices are increasing because the supply of essential items is very limited.
Now Mira Road civic administration has stepped in and setup 50 vegetable stalls at Ala Hazrat ground in Mira Road. But there is no action as yet on the traders and hawkers who are indulging in hoarding and black-marketing of essential supplies.-By Salman Khan
