The managing director of the corporation, S L Bansal, said that the supplies from Nashik (Maharashtra) would have already made it to the city but for the rains in the western parts of the country.

While the onion procurement price is currently fluctuating between Rs 18 and 23 per kg, the government is making the vegetable available to consumers at Rs 10 per kg, thus allowing a subsidy of around Rs 15 lakh per day.

The Delhi State Civil Supplies Corporation collects 150 metric tonnes of onion from the National Agricultural Federation (NAFED) and sells it through its own and the government's outlets at Rs 10 per kg.

``Stabilisation of onion prices at Rs 8 would, however, depend on the extent of damage to the crop in the recent rains and export of the vegetable to other countries,'' Bansal said. Onions are exported from India to countries such as Indonesia and Thailand. Even if the prices of onions from India are marginally higher as compared to the international market, many countries prefer them for their quality, he added.

In all, around 600 metric tonnes of onion reach Delhi daily. Major portions of this supply are, however, meant for the neighbouring states of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Punjab.