With the soaring prices of onions by each passing day,  the Yogi Adityanath led Uttar Pradesh government has decided to open retail outlets for selling onions at controlled rates.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Secretary RK Tiwari has asked all District Magistrates to open onion outlets at the earliest. These outlets will also be opened at Mandi Parishad offices.

Hording of onions too will be tackled by the state government, launching a crackdown on any such activities.

Ranjendra Kumar Tiwary, the Chief Secretary said, a campaign should be launched to prevent hoarding of onions and reports on raids against hoarders should be sent to him by 5 pm every day.

According to Principal Secretary, Horticulture, Sudhir Garg, “Storage limit is 50 tonne for wholesale traders and 10 tonne for retailers. It should be strictly complied with.”

He further said, “Four centres each have been opened in Lucknow, Allahabad and Moradabad, two in Saharanpur and one each in Rampur, Agra, Aligarh, Meerut, Bareilly, Barabanki, Shahjahanpur, Badaun, Bahraich and Siddhartha Nagar.”

The escalating prices of onions around Assembly polls in Haryana and Maharashtra and bypolls in several states including UP, seem to have swung Centre as well as various states governments into action as the government has assured immediate and ample supply to the states.

The government on Sunday banned the export of onion to increase availability of the commodity in the domestic market and contain rising prices.

Earlier last week, the Centre had taken several decisions to curb the rise in onion prices. It asked the states to utilise a stock of 35,000 ton available with the Centre for direct retailing

States have been asked to send their requirements to Union Consumer Affairs Ministry if they are facing any shortages. “The demand for any quantity will be fulfilled immediately,”said Consumer Affairs Minister Ram Vilas Paswan last week.

A heavy monsoon that damaged crops has caused a sudden spike in onion prices. The situation is expected to remain the same for at least a month.

Byelections to a total of 51 assembly seats will be held on October 21, along with the Maharashtra and Haryana assembly elections.