Vegetables still sold at a premium

Visakhapatnam: Black marketeers are ruling the roost in the cyclone-ravaged port city of Visakhapatnam. People, particularly the poor, are the worst hit.

Traders, taking advantage of dwindling supplies of essential commodities and eggs from outside the Visakhapatnam district, are selling essential commodities, vegetables, eggs and milk at a premium.

An egg is sold at Rs 20 and tomato at Rs 80 a kg in the market. Petrol continues to remain a scarce commodity. The East Godavari district administration on Tuesday dispatched 20 tonnes of vegetables to the port city on learning that the prices are skyrocketing. The vegetables would be sold at subsidised rates.

Vehicle owners were taken aback on finding huge crowds waiting at petrol bunks. People are still struggling to secure drinking water. Restoration of pipelines to ensure supply of drinking water is yet to take off.