BHUBANESWAR: Amid rising cost of essential commodities, a sudden surge in sugar prices has added to the burden on households and businesses alike.
Sugar prices have increased sharply in different parts of the state, touching nearly Rs 65 to Rs 70 per kg. Prices have increased by around Rs 7 to Rs 12 rupees per kg in the past two weeks and around Rs 20 per kg in the last one month.
Traders in the city said the commodity, which was available at around Rs 42 to Rs 45 per kg at retail outlets one or two months back, increased to around Rs 58 in the recent weeks and has now climbed to around Rs 70 kg.
Soudamini, a housewife, said at a time when prices have other essentials have gone up, increasing sugar prices have further burdened the household ration budget. “With Ganesh Puja and other festivals coming up, it will impact us more if prices are not regulated,” she said.
Apart from households, business like eateries, confectioneries and bakeries are the worst-affected. The demand for sugar usually remains high for these businesses during the festive season from August to December, when major festivals like Ganesh Puja, Dussehra and Diwali are celebrated.
The price rise has emerged as a major concern for traders in Pahala, which is famous for its Rasagola, Chhena Poda and Chhena Gaja.
Sanjay Das, a trader, said he had got the sugar at around Rs 3,200 per quintal during his previous purchase. However, he is worried about the price at which he will have to buy sugar now.
“We cannot increase prices on our own. The association unanimously decides the prices. Until then, we have to sell our items at the same rate, even if it means bearing an additional loss,” Das told this paper.
Pahala Rasagola Foundation secretary Niranjan Behera said the surge is now forcing traders to bear losses of around Rs 2,000 per quintal.
“Though we have not increased the prices of sweets yet, our meeting is due in the coming days, where we will decide the next course of action as the price of Chhena (cottage cheese) has also increased by Rs 10 to Rs 20,” he said. Chef SP Dalai of a popular cafe and bakery chain in the city said his requirement is around 20 quintals of sugar every month across its outlets. “If the price is not regulated, it may affect the prices of bakery items as well as the overall business,” he said.
Odisha Byabasayi Mahasangha general secretary Sudhakar Panda alleged that sugar prices have been increasing for the past month and the government has not been able to regulate them.
“Last evening, one of the suppliers quoted around Rs 5,700 per quintal but this morning he was asking for Rs 6,100 for the same quantity. Around Rs 300 goes towards transportation while we also have to pay five per cent GST. This price is for wholesale and the rise goes up manifold in the retail sale,” Panda said.
The Mahasangha demanded that the government should clarify as to why the prices of sugar are increasing and initiate appropriate steps to contain them.
