Coronavirus: Vegetables vendors loot people in Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad

Mumbai/Pune, March 26, 2020: Though government authorities expect that vegetable, fruit supplies to Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad will normalize soon, people are being forced to buy vegetables at exorbitant prices.

Potatoes, tomatoes, onion are being sold for Rs 60 per kg each. Also, one litre refined oil is being sold for Rs 150 instead of Rs 100. Also, most shops have run out food grains, chicken and eggs.

Many people took to Facebook to talk about their ordeal.

Kajal Kaju said, “Online grocery vendors like big basket nature’s basket etc should resume their services because there are elderly people at home who cannot move out . Please allow essential services atleast .”

BigBasket is not able to serve in Chandigarh, Chennai, Delhi, Ludhiana, Pune, Vizag. “In these cities we are currently not operational, and we aren’t sure when we’ll resume operations. In each of these cities, our operations are completely shut down due to severe restrictions imposed on our staff and movement of vehicles. We have been trying to work with the local government authorities to get necessary permissions/permits to start our operations, but unfortunately we haven’t been able to get the necessary help so far. We’ll keep you updated when we get more information”, BigBasket message stated to people.

Sanhita Ganekar said, “Today my swiggy order didn’t reach me because delivery person said police did not allow him to go beyond check point. I stay in Hinjewadi. I hope such things don’t continue to happen.”

Yog B. Patil added, “ This is going to be worst dear. Farmers are getting beaten by police if they trye to sell there vagetables. Then the vendors who buy vaggies from farmers will increase prices even other people like swiggy and all will hike prices. Its very important to follow lockdown but its making poor people suffer.”

Government allows truckloads movement

Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar said that truckloads who were stuck due lockdown, have been allowed to go to their destinations. This will resume supply of food grain, vegetable and other essential commodities in the state.

Pawar chaired a meeting in this regard in Mumbai.  The meeting was also attended by Water Resources Minister Jayant Patil, Home Minister Anil Deshmukh, Revenue Minister Balasaheb Thorat, Principal Secretary Ajay Mehta, Director General of Police Subodh Kumar and others. In the meeting , it was also decided to provide adequate petrol, diesel to the farm tractors, harvester and vehicles to provide relief to the farmers in the state.

Nagpur district collector has started a ‘community kitchen’ facility in collaboration with private companies for senior citizens living alone, disabled, poor citizens, homeless living on the streets. It was also decided that such community kitchens should be opened in other cities of the state in collaboration with private companies, NGOs and organizations on the same lines as well as providing ‘Ready to eat’ or ‘Ready to cook’ food to the citizens.

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Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has also welcomed the Rs 1 lakh 70 thousand crore package announced by the Union Government and other measures by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to fight against Corona.