The price of pakkoda, laddoo and crispy chips will now pinch your pockets as several sweet stalls in the city have increased prices following the steep increase in prices of palm oil and commercial LPG cylinders.
Similarly, auto drivers have also expressed concern with the price of auto LPG being increased by Rs 7 per litre.
“I was surprised to learn that the prices of items sold in a nearby sweet stall had gone up from Sunday. When asked, the owner of the stall said that the prices of sweets and karams (savouries) had been increased by Rs 10 to Rs 30 per kg,” said Mr R. Sanjai, a resident of Ayanavaram.
“I had already decided to go on a crash diet and this price rise will certainly help me stay away from cholesterol-rich snacks like pakkodas and chips,” he jokes.
State-owned oil companies had on Sunday increased commercial LPG cylinder prices by Rs 245. Similarly, prices of edible oils including palm oil, which is widely used by sweet stalls and hotels, have been increased by Rs 10 per kg over the past few weeks.
Said Mr Annamalai, owner of Anjalai stall in Ayanavaram, “Palm oil prices have increased to Rs 660 per 10 kg in Chennai, which was only around Rs 200, a couple of years ago. And commercial LPG price has shot up to Rs 1,955 from Rs 1,730, which is unbearable and has forced us to hike prices.”
Traders unions have also taken strong exception to the hike.
“The price increase will mainly affect small traders including eateries and sweet stalls. Union government should not allow private players to exploit our oil and natural gas resources, and should also reduce tax burdens on traders,” said Mr Vellayan, president, state traders welfare association.