DHARMAPURI: Vadas have become costly due to the increase in the prices of pigeon pea (Tamil: thuvaram paruppu) and black gram (Tamil: ulundhu).
For the people of Dharmapuri, vada is virtually a must dish, along with pongal or idli.
However, now most people are not taking it as prices have skyrocketed.
Despite government’s efforts to rein in prices, thuvaram paruppu now costs Rs 220 per kg and ulundhu Rs 160 in the retail market.
As a result, the price of vada, which was Rs 3-5, has risen to Rs 5-7 in the town’s eateries. Many now think twice before ordering vadas.
“Two vadas along with idli or pongal and a cup of tea is my regular breakfast. A few months back I stopped taking tea due to the price hike. Now I have to stop eating vadas. For a middle-class man like me, even eating two idlis may become a costly affair,” said Sivalingam, a resident of the town.
“My parents give me Rs 25 for daily expenses” said Selvam, a college student.
“The fair is Rs 12 and I used have a minimum of two vadas for Rs 6 and Rs 7 for tea. Now, I eat only one vada instead of two,” the student added.
A women’s self-help group, which is running a restaurant on the collectorate complex, assured that they would reduce the price of vada if the price of dal comes down.
“At this price for dal, we cannot not sell a vada at Rs 3. We have increased the price to Rs 5. If the dal price comes down, we will reduce the price of vada,” said one of the members of the self-help group.