Srinagar, July 11: In the face of continued curfew in the Valley since past few days, the prices of the essential commodities have increased considerably. The consumers on Sunday, when there was relaxation in the curfew, complained profiteering and overcharging by some unscrupulous.
 Greater Kashmir during a random check of the market on Saturday and Sunday talked to a cross-section of consumers and shopkeepers. The consumers complained about the sharp increase in the prices of the essential commodities particularly the vegetables.
 A consumer in Bemina said: “It seems the vegetables are on fire. A kg of beans at Rs 35, knolknol (locally known as mounj-e) at Rs 30/kg, tomato staggeringly at Rs 50/kg. It is loot.”
 The consumers said they were getting the vegetables at increasingly high prices for the past several days. “During past several days it was only in the late evening hours that we were able to move and purchase some essential items. But the rates were quite high,” said Iftikhar Ahmad of Downtown, adding that the same stood true about today.
 “Today also you can see for yourself that the prices have gone sky high,” he said.
 The customers said the non availability of the essentials in the Valley had given the unscrupulous vendors a chance to charge extra.
  “They are charging as per their wish and a consumer has no choice except to purchase,” said Ghulam Muhammad of Hawal.
 At almost every place the people complained that they are getting the essentials at much higher rates than what they used to get on normal days. “Besides vegetable, the prices of milk, eggs and grocery items have also gone sky high,” said some consumers.
  “Few days back I purchased 1kg of tomatoes for Rs 30 but in just a week it is being sold at Rs 40. Similar is the case with potatoes its cost has also increased by RS 5,” said Zeenat a housewife.
  “All other vegetables are being charged an additional amount of RS 5 to Rs 10,” she added.
 However, the shopkeepers have a different story to tell. “During the last several days we have incurred considerable losses due to rotting of the vegetables in our shops. It is only late in the evening that we could sell some of the items, so naturally the rates would have to increase,” said Ali Muhammad a shopkeeper at Bemina.

Lastupdate on : Sun, 11 Jul 2010 21:30:00 Mecca time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 11 Jul 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Mon, 12 Jul 2010 00:00:00 IST