Heat sends prices of fish, vegetables soaring

KOLKATA: Behala resident Arun Mukherjee buys his groceries in gaps of four to five days. As the mercury soared over the week during which he made two trips to the market, he was surprised when his second shopping spree cost him nearly Rs 100 more than the first one. The exact quantities of the very items that cost him Rs 391 just four days ago, cost him Rs 483 now."It gave me a sinking feeling," said Mukherjee.
But his feeling is common to every middle-class household in Kolkata. The summer heat has really turned the market hot, leaving gaping holes in people's pockets.
The prevailing heat wave has led to crop failure across the nation, pushing up prices of sugar, edible oil, pulses, rice, fruits, vegetables and even tea. The price of fish, too, has skyrocketed.
"Global warming has started affecting our daily survival," said Barun Sarkar, an environment activist. "Crops have failed in West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu almost on the same scale," said S K Tibrewal, secretary of the West Bengal Cold Storage Association.
According to him, production has declined by 40% this season. "Moreover, whatever supply has arrived in the wholesale market is rotting fast because of the heat. This further reduces actual supply to the retail market, pushing up prices. So, while the price of rice rose by Rs 3 per kg, that of potatoes has risen by Rs 5 a kg, fish by Rs 30 a kg, brinjal by Rs 6 a kg, ladies finger by Rs 5 a kg, pumpkin by Rs 4 a kg and a dozen eggs Re 1 more. "I used to buy tea for Rs 250 a kg even a week ago. Now, I pay Rs 350 a kg, but don't get the same quality," said Mukherjee.