Bhubaneswar: Food and Supplies Minister Ranendra Pratap Swain on Saturday said the onion prices will continue to rise for two more months.
Holding the Centre entirely responsible for the rising prices of the tuber, the minister said after the amendment of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, the state government has no role to play in controlling the prices.
Earlier, the state had the right to ensure stock verification and control the transportation of the commodities, but it is no longer under the purview of the state, he clarified.
Besides onion, prices of other essential commodities will go out of control for a month or two, Swain said adding that the Centre alone is responsible for the situation.
Meanwhile, the Centre has imposed ceiling on the onion stocks for the wholesalers under the amended Act. Now, the retailers cannot stock more than two tonne of onions and the wholesalers 25 tonne.