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# Palaniswami Alleges 450 Tonnes of Onions Unaccounted For in Tamil Nadu
- URL: https://newsanek.com/tamil-nadu-onion-supply-dispute-450-tonne-gap/
- Published: 2026-11-03T15:54:59.000Z
- Updated: 2026-11-03T15:54:59.000Z
- Description: AIADMK's Edappadi K Palaniswami alleges onions bought for subsidised sale in Tamil Nadu are unaccounted for; the claim is not independently verified.
- Author: Kumar Ujjwal
- Tags: India, Tamil Nadu, #state-tamil-nadu, #starter

A dispute over onions procured for subsidised sale in Tamil Nadu has grown, after AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami alleged that 450 tonnes brought into the state cannot be accounted for. According to a report by Urban Acres, the claim has not been independently established.

### Key points

- Palaniswami alleges that 450 tonnes of onions brought into Tamil Nadu are unaccounted for.
- He says 250 tonnes bought from northern states were left in lorries at a Chennai warehouse and are at risk of spoiling.
- A separate 450-tonne NAFED consignment was reportedly not accepted by the state because of quality concerns.
- The report carries no response from the state government, NAFED or other officials.

## What the allegation says

In a statement reported by Dinamalar, Palaniswami said onion prices had risen sharply in the open market. He alleged that the Tamil Nadu government had announced it would buy onions from northern states and sell them at lower rates through fair-price shops. He criticised how the government has handled buying and distribution.

According to the statement, 250 tonnes of onions were procured from northern states last week and brought to Chennai by goods train. The stock was reportedly kept at a warehouse in Korukkupettai, to be sent on to other districts. Palaniswami alleged that the onions had not been unloaded from 10 lorries for three days and were deteriorating. He said the stock could be wasted, causing a loss to taxpayers.

The statement also mentions a separate 450-tonne consignment procured through the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED) in a fourth procurement phase. Palaniswami said the state government reportedly declined to accept it because the quality was inadequate, while NAFED reportedly said the consignment had not been returned. The allegation of 450 tonnes being unaccounted for rests on these reported positions.

## What is not yet clear

The report says it does not contain a direct statement from the Tamil Nadu government, NAFED, the warehouse operator, transport contractors or procurement officials. It also does not include any independent inspection, warehouse record or transport document confirming the condition of the onions.

It is also unclear whether the 450 tonnes linked to NAFED are the same stock as the 250 tonnes said to be near Korukkupettai, or a separate quantity. The procurement price, the intended retail price, delivery dates and the districts meant to receive the onions are not given either.

## Why it matters

Onions are perishable, so delays in moving them can quickly reduce their value and make it harder to sell them at a controlled price. The report notes that procurement, quality checks, acceptance, storage, transport and district allocation must each be recorded. A delay at any stage can lead to losses.

Palaniswami urged the government to take steps to control price rises and accused it of not understanding how serious the increase in onion prices is. He called the reported handling of the consignments a waste of public money.

To establish what happened, the report says warehouse inventories, transport records, quality assessments and documents on acceptance or rejection would need to be confirmed. Until the government or NAFED responds, the claims remain allegations.

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### Source

- [Urban Acres: Tamil Nadu Onion Supply Dispute Deepens Over Alleged 450-Tonne Gap](https://urbanacres.in/tamil-nadu-onion-supply-dispute-deepens-over-alleged-450-tonne-gap/?ref=newsanek.com)