The deal reflects a boom in India's luxury housing market as growing wealth and the listing of firms from smaller cities swell the ranks of the country's rich
The deal reflects a boom in India's luxury housing market as growing wealth and the listing of firms from smaller cities swell the ranks of the country's rich
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A team of officers led by Shivamogga sub-division Assistant Commissioner H.P.S. Mythri conducted surprise inspections at areca godowns in Bullapura, on the outskirts of the city, on Monday and collected samples to check whether chemicals had been used during processing. The exercise followed complaints that areca merchants were using chemicals to enhance the colour and shine of the nuts. Several truckloads of areca were recently seized in neighbouring Maharashtra over similar concerns. Ms. Mythri told the merchants that the use of chemicals could pose serious health hazards to consumers, besides hurting the market for local areca growers in the long run. She warned that farmers would face heavy losses if the region’s produce lost its reputation in the market because of chemical use. The officers collected samples from the godown for laboratory testing. Ms. Mythri said the district administration would take action against those concerned if the tests confirmed the use of chemicals. She urged farmers and merchants to ensure proper processing of areca without resorting to chemical treatment. The team included Tahsildar V.S. Rajiv, among others. Officials of the Revenue Department have been conducting surprise inspections of roadside eateries and hotels in the city to check the quality of food served and hygiene standards. The team recently ordered the closure of two juice shops in the city.
Prices of essential consumables, including onions, tender coconuts, and lemons, have recently increased in Yadgir’s open market, leaving consumers with little choice but to pay the inflated rates fixed by local vendors. Presently, vendors in the open market are selling onions at ₹70 per kilogram, tender coconuts at ₹80 each, and lemons at ₹10 per piece. These three items are considered essential for daily human consumption. Onions and lemons are core culinary ingredients for households and commercial kitchens, while tender coconut is widely consumed for its health benefits. Traders attribute the sudden price hike primarily to supply shortages caused by poor rainfall. While onions and lemons arrive through wholesale channels from various regions, local vendors depend on external traders for tender coconuts. ”We receive tender coconut stock from traders in Mysuru, Mandya, and parts of Tamil Nadu. Deficient rainfall has likely led to lower yields, short supply, and the resulting scarcity,” explained Gopal, a local coconut vendor, adding that they didn’t receive coconut stock for a week. The steep increase in lemon prices has come as a particular surprise. During a typical monsoon season, local vendors sell 5 to 6 lemons for ₹10. Currently, a single lemon is selling for ₹10. The price surge is impacting both individual households and commercial establishments. Onions and lemons are vital for large-scale food preparation in restaurants and event catering. Facing steep ingredient costs, several local eateries have begun rationing lemon and onion servings to customers. ”I had to buy 10 lemons for ₹100 today to prepare a non-vegetarian meal at home. It has made cooking significantly more expensive, but I had no option other than to pay the demanded price,” said Naveen Kumar, a local buyer. Deficient rainfall, following the onset of the southwest monsoon, continues to hamper crop yields across supplying regions. Vendors warn that relief may not come anytime soon. ”The delayed and short rains have directly impacted crop yields. Tender coconut, onion and lemon prices are expected to rise further as the summer approaches,” noted a local vegetable vendor.
The ED has also provisionally attached shares held in Pitti's demat account valued at ₹59.60 crore under the PMLA.