The price of onion is hovering around Rs 35 to Rs 40 in Ranchi and Jamshedpur, almost double its normal rate, disturbing family budgets to the extent that state food and civil supplies minister Saryu Roy on Tuesday evening conceded it was a genuine problem.

In Jamshedpur on Tuesday, minister Roy directed deputy commissioners of all 24 districts to take steps to stem the price rise.

"I received complaints from ordinary citizens not just in Jamshedpur, but also from Ranchi, Dhanbad and Hazaribagh, about onion's skyrocketing prices. I directed all DCs this evening (Tuesday) to ensure retailers sell at wholesale prices. I understand onions coming from Nashik are costly, resulting in a sharp spurt in price in Jharkhand. But, we should try to ensure retailers and wholesalers don't hike rates arbitrarily using this excuse," said Roy, who is also Jamshedpur West MLA.

But, despite the minister's best intentions, it is not clear if DCs can tame the prices.

Shambhu Gupta, member of Federation of Jharkhand Chamber of Commerce & Industries (FJCCI), and its foodgrain committee member, said various factors were involved behind onion's soaring prices.

"For onions, Jharkhand depends on Nashik and Madhya Pradesh. But, rain damaged onion crops in Madhya Pradesh, hence the entire pressure of supply shifted on onion mandis in Nashik. So, obviously price will rise. In Nashik, earlier wholesale rate of onion was Rs 15 per kilo. It is now Rs 20. Add to add transport costs during rain, with further risk of damage. That's why price has gone up in Jharkhand too," said Gupta.

Madan Prasad, a wholesale onion dealer at Pandra Bazar Samiti in Ranchi, agreed. "We are selling good quality onion at Pandra wholesale market at Rs 27. Obviously, retailers will raise prices," he said.

Satyanarayan Agarwal, a wholesaler and a senior functionary of Singhbhum Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Jamshedpur, said it looked like people would have to put up with costly onions till Durga Puja. "Prices can reduce only when new onion crops reach the market in the last week of September," he said.