Green chilli prices hot up

​Hyderabad: Prices of green chilli have hit an unprecedented high. From Rs 60 a week ago, day on day the price of the most important ingredient in curries kept rising and has touched Rs 140 per kg in some areas in Hyderabad.

On Monday, the price of green chilli at the Bowenpally agricultural market was Rs 80 per kg but in the retail market the price varied from Rs 100 to Rs 140 depending on the locality.

Owing to scanty supply, green chilies have become dearer over the past fortnight. Appa Rao Veeramachineni who owns a retail store in Punjagutta said, “The market is unable to meet the demand and the city depends heavily on Guntur and Bengaluru market.

We sold green chilli at Rs 140 per kg. With lack of rains in the last two years the chilli production has been hit badly.” Such is the scarcity that out of 40 street side vendors at Picket only two sold the tongue burner.

Sudha Rao, a resident of Mud Fort said, “Green chilli plays such an important part in our cuisine that we cannot imagine cooking up a meal without the vital ingredient. It is as good as salt in a curry.”

With no respite, people are reeling under the price rise but are still buying this ‘hot green’. However, several restaurants in the city have reduced the amount that they usually buy. Ram Seth, a restaurant owner in Secunderabad said, “We buy just two kg now as against the normal five per day.”