The prices of onion have started softening in retail markets after a slew of measures initiated by the government to check the rising prices of the commodity. The retail prices of onion came down by 10 rupees per kg in metros. Prices in wholesale markets in Lasalgaon and Pimpalgaon in Nashik district of Maharashtra witnessed 52 per cent fall during the last three days. Committee of Secretaries, headed by Cabinet Secretary K M Chandrasekhar on Thursday reviewed the situation and asked railways to provide more rakes for movement of onion from producing regions to retail markets. Expressing hope that the onion prices will ease very quickly, Chandrasekhar said, the government will do whatever required to bring down the prices. He said, the government has also decided to move onion from Karnataka and Gujarat where the output has been reasonably good to other parts of the country. The government on Thursday asked its three trading companies, MMTC, STC and PEC to import onion to ease the prices. National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India has announced that it will import 25,000 tonnes of onions from Pakistan. Meanwhile, Delhi Government has started selling onion at 40 rupees per kilogram at around 400 retail outlets across the city. It will be available at 280 Mother Dairy outlets, 85 Kendriya Bhandar and five Nafed outlets and 13 NCCF outlets. Traders in Punjab have started importing onion from Pakistan through Attari-Wagah border which has helped in softening of onion prices in wholesale market in the state. But Pakistani traders have also raised the prices, which has resulted in high price of onion imported from Pakistan. AIR correspondent reports, welcoming the Centre’s decision to waive of custom duty on the import of onion to control its price, traders say that the landing rate in Indian territory is still between Rs. 30 to 40 per kilogram. In the retail market, it is being sold between 60 to 65 rupees per kg. However, the hike in price is expected to come down soon. According to sources in the Customs Deptt. at Attari, more than 100 truck loads of onion have crossed over to Indian side in the last three days. That means 1000 tonnes of onion. It has eased the problem of its availability in this part of the country to some extent. Although this ‘Jack of all Cuisines’ is ruling the roost at present but as per government’s assurances would soon stop giving tears to its admirers.