Vegetable prices shoot up in Pune

Pune: First Puneites were facing water cuts as the city is yet to get its quota of rains, and now the spillover affect - prices of vegetables too are spiralling.

And so, the weekly vegetable shopping trip is now a cause for worry for the Wankhedes.

With rains playing truant, vegetable prices have shot up.

"Definitely it's hurting my budget. See I was paying just Rs 100 for these vegetables earlier, now I spend seventy rupees more," says Ashok Wankhede, a school teacher.

"Onion, potatoes are for everyday consumption but even their prices have shot up," says Smita Wankhede, a housewife.

At this wholesale vegetable market in Pune, prices of all vegetables from the humble potato to greens have shot up over the last week.

A comparison of prices at the Pune wholesale market helps to see the hike clearly. Last week, potatoes cost Rs 14 per kg - this week it's shot up to Rs 16 per kg. While ladies' fingers were priced at Rs 20 per kg  last week, this week it is Rs 28. Last week, drumsticks were priced at Rs 25 per kg - this week it is Rs 40 per kg and for tomatoes, the price has shot up from Rs 13 per kg to Rs 16 per kg.

"It's very natural. When there will be no rains there will be less production so prices are bound to go up," said Arti, a vegetable seller.

Already reeling under a 30 per cent water cut the price rise is hitting people hard.

With greens getting increasingly out of reach, Pune residents are praying the rain brings an end to their problems.