Amid apprehension of hike in onion prices, Lt Governor Najeeb Jung on Wednesday instructed the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED) to purchase onions on behalf of Delhi government to create a stock of the vegetable.

The Managing Director of NAFED assured Jung that they have the infrastructure to store, transport and preserve onions, the L-G House officials said. NAFED can store up to 300-400 tonnes of onions and can increase its capacity further, they said.

NAFED is also exploring buying potatoes for Government.

Jung today took stock of the current wholesale and retail prices of onions and potatoes in Delhi and initiated a number of steps to check any subsequent rise in their prices. He directed SAFAL outlets all across Delhi to double the stock and sale of onions and potatoes.

SAFAL would stock and sell approximately 120 metric tonnes of onions and potatoes through its 380 retail outlets as soon as the stock is made available to it, the officials said.

According to L-G House officials, the Commissioner (Food and Civil Supplies) has also been instructed to operate 60 to 70 mobile vans all across Delhi, where sale of onions and potatoes will take place at government determined rates.

Further, Jung directed the Chief Secretary to write to the Department of Consumer Affairs to issue orders on stock limits to prevent hoarding.

The Delhi Agricultural Marketing Board has also been asked to issue daily advertisements in newspapers to keep people informed about daily rates of onions and potatoes.