Srinagar, Apr 25: With wholesale and retail rates of mutton in Kashmir going up, experts say it would add to already soaring inflation.
 According to experts the hike would have more severe bearing on the inflation given the upcoming marriage season in Kashmir.
 “This is a ripe marriage season in Kashmir. In the coming days and weeks thousands of marriages are scheduled here. Since marriage functions consume thousands of quintals of mutton here, the cost of these functions is going to increase,” experts said.
 Experts added that when mutton become costlier, the rate for cooking also went up. “The government announced rate is not only going to make your mutton costlier, there are a host of other items using mutton as an ingredient, which will see an upward price change,” experts said.
 Mehraj Ahmad, a baker said: “We have a host of items where we use mutton as an ingredient. Once the rate of mutton goes up, it naturally is going to make many of our items costlier for the consumer,” he said.
 Ahmad fears that rate increase of the items might bring down his sales. “Customer has a certain capacity. Once the prices go above that capacity, the product goes beyond his reach,” he said.

Consumers’ point
 However, many consumers said that even as the government had hiked the rate, which according to them was definitely going to add to the inflation, “but what we want is a quality control.”
 “The meat that is being sold in Kashmir is of low-grade/quality. The dealers bring in C or D-grade sheep from outside, and sell it at higher prices,” said Abdul Samad, a customer from Bemina.
 Second Samad, another consumer Rouf Ahmad Dagga said: “The government should check the practice of selling low-grade/quality meat in Kashmir. The authorities need to ensure that a common man gets that quality for meat which he/she is charged for.”

Dealers take
 Interestingly, while the government capitulated to the mutton dealers’ demand fixing the retail and wholesale rate of meat at Rs 240/- and Rs 220/- respectively, the mutton dealers have so far shown reluctance to end up their over month-long strike.
 Mutton dealers have been demanding increase in the selling rate and reduction in tax they say the government has imposed on the sheep imported into the Valley.
 Meanwhile, the dealers are awaiting a notification from the government, which they said Chief Minister Omar Abdullah assured them to issue to roll back the increased tax.
 However, Divisional Commissioner Asgar Samoon told Greater Kashmir that he had asked the dealers in the meeting on Saturday to reduce the rate by Rs 5 per kg from the government fixed rate of Rs 240 per kg in case government rolled back the enhanced tax.

Lastupdate on : Mon, 25 Apr 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 25 Apr 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 26 Apr 2011 00:00:00 IST