Chennai: “The current location of the substandard onion consignment brought from Maharashtra and kept at the Korukkupettai terminal, its quantity, and the complete details of the financial loss should be disclosed transparently. Who is going to take responsibility for sending the substandard onions?” asked Velmurugan, leader of the Tamilaga Vazhvurimai Katchi.
In a statement issued by him on this, he said, ‘At a time when poor, vulnerable, and middle-class families in Tamil Nadu are being severely affected by the rise in the prices of essential commodities, it is highly condemnable that quality lapses have come to light in the government’s procurement efforts undertaken to control the price of onions.
On September 3, the Tamil Nadu government launched a scheme to sell one kilogram of onions per family ration card at a price of Rs. 35 through 8,914 urban fair price shops and cooperative outlets functioning under the Cooperation Department, with the aim of controlling the rise in onion prices.
According to the government press release, a total of 2,498 metric tons of onions were procured in the first three phases, of which 2,380.32 metric tons were sold to the public. The government said that the remaining onion stock was also sold out about 25 days ago, and that onion sales are currently not taking place at fair price shops.
In this situation, the Tamil Nadu Cooperative Marketing Federation (TNCCF) had issued a procurement and distribution order in October to the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED) for the purchase and supply of an additional 400 metric tons of onions at a price of Rs. 29 per kg.
It was stipulated that the onions for this procurement must be of 'A' grade and have a minimum diameter of 45 millimeters.
Furthermore, during an inspection conducted on October 31, 2026, at the Chennai Korukkupettai terminal, it was found that the sample bags contained 20 to 26 percent rotten, sprouted, and fungus-affected onions, and that 50.2 percent of the onions were smaller than the stipulated 45 millimeters.
Following this, the Tamil Nadu Cooperative Marketing Federation canceled on October 31 the order it had issued to the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India for the procurement and distribution of 400 metric tons of onions.
The Tamil Nadu government has clarified that the poor-quality onions at the Korukkupet terminal belonged to the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India and were not onions that had already been procured by the cooperative department. Why does the government’s administration exist if it cannot even ensure the quality of food items procured for the people?
Even after the substandard quality was identified in Maharashtra itself, how was such stock sent to Tamil Nadu? Where did the officials’ monitoring go? What action has been taken against the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India for violating quality conditions? Who is going to take responsibility for sending poor-quality onions? The minister? The Chief Minister?
Where is the rejected 400 metric tons of onions now? Why has the government not disclosed details about its location, current condition, and the financial loss incurred? Why should innocent people become victims of the administration’s negligence and the irresponsible actions of officials? Should the people continue to suffer because of administrative mismanagement? Does the government’s duty end merely with canceling the purchase order?
In this matter, a detailed explanation should be obtained from the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India, and appropriate action should be taken in accordance with the terms of the contract. A thorough investigation should be conducted into the deficiencies in the procurement and quality inspection procedures, and action should be taken against the officials responsible for the mistakes and the concerned company.
Complete information regarding the current location of the substandard onion stock that was at the Korukkupet terminal, its quantity, and the financial loss caused by it should be transparently disclosed to the public.
The people’s tax money is not the personal money of those in power. It is public property created by the sweat of working people. Protecting it and ensuring that quality food products are available to the people at fair prices is the government’s fundamental duty,” he said.