Diversion: Vegetable prices go through the roof

Expressbuzz, Sept 23, 2008

JEYPORE: The vegetable prices have hit peak in Koraput district due to diversion of the produce from Koraput district to the flood-hit coastal and western Orissa districts.

Essential commodities and vegetables of Koraput district are hardly exported to the coastal and other districts of Orissa in normal days and the vegetables are within the reach of the common man in various markets of Jeypore and Koraput sub-divisions even in monsoon season.

This year the prices have gone through the roof after being transported to Kalahandi, Sambalpur, Balangiri, Cuttack and Khurda districts. For the last five days, the vegetable markets of Borrigumma, Semiliguda, Pottangi, Nandapur and Laxmipur, the big vegetable markets in KBK districts are running with minimum stock.

The locals now depend on the neighbouring Chattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh markets due to which the prices of the commonly used vegetables have gone up by 10 times.

Even the buses to neighbouring flood-affected areas are found transporting vegetables to the flood-affected areas.

Sources said the transportation would continue till Durga Puja as the local demand would be met after the arrival of winter vegetables from tribal villages.