Mumbaiites swarmed fair price shops, milk centres and cooperative stores to get a taste of the state government's self-proclaimed largesse and returned with bagsfull of fresh vegetables.

customers at Maratha Stores and Sahakari Bhandar near Regal Cinema. ``Why would I buy cauliflower at Rs 30 from the market when I can get it for Rs 20 here,'' said Najam Basrai, a diamond merchant residing in the neighbourhood. Saying so, he picked up a kilo of cabbage priced at Rs 14 and looked around for potato packs. ``Got to shop for vegetables to last a week. Good times don't last,'' he grinned.

Curiosity turned to a sense of urgency for people who dropped into these shops to have a look, on finding that most vegetables were fresh. ``Keep this pack aside, I will be back in two minutes,'' said a lady on her way home to collect some cash.

However the retailers are not very happy with the outcome of the scheme. Prices of essentials like potato have reported a fall in the retail market bynearly two rupees. Other vegetables like tinda

which cost an average of Rs 16 in the retail shops are being sold for Rs 12 through this scheme. Green peas comes at Rs 25, three-five rupees less than at the local vendor.

The low prices have drawn the customers to shops which have traditionally traded in grains. Many ration card holders, who usually leave their ration for their servants, have decided to pay their neglected social service centres a visit.

However the retailers are confident that the scheme will not last beyond the stipulated December 30 deadline. ``Moreover the vegetables supplied through the scheme amount cannot hope to fill the 150 tonne need of the city everday,'' said Vijaykumar Dalvi, the president of the Wholesale Vegetable and Flower Vendors Association.

But till then, city dwellers have decided to support the scheme, for their own good. ``Support the schem, of course I do,'' beamed Greg Diaz, a marketing executive, showing four bags of vegetables to prove hispoint.