HARIPUR, Dec 6: A downward trend in the prices of vegetables was observed during the last couple of days in Haripur. However the rates of different fruit items have shown a rise between 30 to 49 per cent as the Eid was getting closer.

A survey of the city’s green market revealed that the prices of all those vegetables which had registered 50 to 60 per cent increase during the first two weeks of the holy month of Ramazan have now dropped considerably providing a little relief to the much affected community of less paid and salaried persons. This is not due to any checking or strictness on the part of the district Nazim or any other officials, rather the supply of these items has now become abundant from the farms said a vegetable vendor outspokenly while talking to newsmen during the visit of the market.

It may be recalled that in spite of the orders of district as well as Tehsil Nazims of Haripur for maintaining fixed rates of the daily use commodities the shopkeepers kept on fleecing the poor fellows.

The rates of vegetables collected from the market are onion Rs8 per kg which was Rs12 per kg during the fist two weeks, potato came down to Rs12 from Rs20; tomato Rs14 from Rs28; peas Rs16 from Rs32; cauliflower Rs6 from Rs12; cabbage Rs6 from Rs12; green chilly Rs70 per 5 kg from Rs180; garlic Rs38 from 48, carrot Rs6 from Rs10; radish Rs3 from Rs6. The prices of fruits have risen as the golden apple which was being sold at Rs18 to Rs20 was now available at Rs24 to Rs26 per kg, Kalakolu apple; Rs44 from Rs32, guavas Rs18 from Rs12.