Consumers in Kalyanpur expressed concern over rising prices of essential commodities as the weekly market on Sunday witnessed high prices of vegetables, cooking oil, onion, garlic and sugar.

The skyrocketing prices has made it difficult for low-income and middle-class families to manage household expenses, with consumers saying they were being forced to make choices over which essential items to buy.

Onion was being sold at around Rs 60-70 per kg at Kalyanpur market, while garlic was priced at Rs 200 per kg. Mustard oil was selling at around Rs 200-215 per litre.

Prices of vegetables were also high despite the arrival of some winter vegetables. Cauliflower was being sold at around Rs 200 per kg, while ridge gourd was priced at Rs 80 per kg, bitter gourd at Rs 50 per kg, green chilli at Rs 160 per kg and brinjal at Rs 50 per kg.

Radish was being sold at Rs 20 a bunch, pointed gourd at Rs 40 per kg and sweet pumpkin at Rs 20 a bunch. A piece of sweet pumpkin was also priced at Rs 20, according to the report.

Consumers also raised concerns over the availability and price of sugar. They alleged that sugar had not been available at government fair-price shops for the past few months.

According to consumers, sugar was not supplied in August and had not been received in September so far. The prescribed price of sugar under the government ration system is Rs 32 per kg, they said.

In the absence of supplies through the government system, consumers have been forced to buy sugar from the open market, where it is currently priced at around Rs 70 per kg. Consumers said open-market prices were also fluctuating.

Locals said their incomes had not increased in proportion to the rise in household expenses. They said the prices of rice, pulses, oil, onion, garlic, vegetables and sugar were putting additional pressure on household budgets.

The impact was particularly difficult for daily wage earners and low-income families, who said they were sometimes compelled to return home after purchasing fewer items than required.

Middle-class families were also trying to manage the additional expenditure by cutting down on other household expenses, locals said.

Consumers questioned how families with limited incomes would manage if prices of essential commodities continued to rise.

The report did not mention any response from the government or authorities regarding the rise in prices or the alleged non-availability of sugar at fair-price shops.