Srinagar, Feb 13: Even as the vital Srinagar-Jammu highway was opened Thursday after remaining closed for five running days, consumers from different parts of the city here complained shortage of vegetables on Saturday.
 Greater Kashmir talked to a cross-section of people in the city who complained shortage of vegetables as also their rising prices.
 “It is a common consumer who feels the pinch when the highway goes block.  There are quite few vegetables available in the market that too on higher prices,” said a group of consumers.
 “The prices are high as the Valley imports most of the vegetables during this season from outside,” reasoned a shopkeeper.
 Muhammad Sidiq, a vegetable seller said: “We are helpless about it (the prices) when the vegetables are short in supply. The wholesale dealers increase the prices and we are left with no alternative than to increase the rates.”Pertinently the vegetable production in the Valley goes down during the winter season. “In summers we have enough of locally grown vegetables. However in winters due to low temperature there is quite little local production. So we are mostly dependent on outside supply which is disturbed more often than not by closure of highway,” said a shopkeeper.
 “If the highway remained closed for few more days, we would have no alternative than to consume the dried vegetables and pulses. Unfortunately the prices of such commodities are equally high,” said a consumer.
 Many consumers said government should ensure proper supply of essential commodities in the Valley to avoid the crises situation in case of road closure.

Lastupdate on : Sat, 13 Feb 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sat, 13 Feb 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sun, 14 Feb 2010 00:00:00 IST