Goa to fight back Karnataka-triggered vegetable crisis

Panaji, Feb 7 (PTI) A day after Belgaum-based wholesalevegetable traders in Karnataka, began their non-cooperationwith Goa government, the state has decided not to let itssubsidised vegetable scheme get affected.

"We will discuss the matter with Chief Minister and in noway the supply would be allowed to be affected," SankulpAmonkar, Chairman, Goa Horticulture Corporation Limited toldPTI.

The Corporation is wary of wholesalers in Belgaum, adestination from where major chunk of vegetables is brought toGoa, after they decided not to cooperate and blacklist it.

Amonkar said the wholesalers'' move to blacklist theCorporation was "unwarranted."

"We have successfully managed to provide fruits andvegetables to common men in subsidised rates," he said addingthat onions were provided as cheap as Rs 25 per kg to theconsumers when prices were soaring.

Corporation officials said Goa government had bled for Rs2.18-crore during the onion crisis.

The Chairman said he will be seeking police protection totrucks transporting vegetables.

"If wholesalers from Belgaum refuse to co-operate with usthen there are several other destinations, which can beexplored to get the vegetables. At no cost, the scheme toprovide subsidised vegetables should be stopped," he said.

The Corporation gets 120 tonnes of vegetables daily fromBelgaum which includes 40 tonnes of onion, distributed through350-odd outlets.

According to sources, the lobby of vegetable vendors fromBelgaum who have set their foot in the Goan market areopposing the Corporation, which has provided employmentexclusively to locals.

Few vendors had visited Belgaum on Saturday provoking thewholesalers, which triggered the crisis, they said.

The vegetable vendors were reportedly disturbed afterCorporation began selling fruits at a lesser price through theoutlets, which affected their business.