Srinagar, Apr 7: While the prolonged strike of mutton dealers has put the common consumers in the Valley to a lot of convenience, the government as well as the dealers are adamant to budge from their respective stands.
 While the dealers are reluctant to sell the meat at government fixed rates citing “increase in VAT on animals” the latter is not ready to allow anyone sell the commodity at ‘exorbitant rates.’

Dealers point:
 The dealers said the government has increased the VAT on the sheep being imported into the Valley. “While the hike in the VAT has reduced our margins, the government on the other hand has fixed the selling price of the commodity which is quite low,” the dealers said.
 The dealers said the government has effected a Rs 2.5 hike VAT per kilogram of live animal imported into the state. “This has increase our cost so we cannot sell the mutton at the government fixed rates,” said Ali Muhammad, a mutton dealer.
 “The mutton dealers have appealed to Chief Minister Omer Abdullah and Finance Minster Abdul Rahim Rather demanding revocation of VAT,” sources said.

Official version
 However, the officials said the VAT has not been increased. “It is only the mode of charging the VAT that has been changed by the government. Earlier, the tax would be levied on the sheep according to their numbers. Now it will be charged according to the weight of the sheep,” they said.
 “The government won’t allow anyone to sell meat at the price which is more than fixed by it. We have already fixed Rs 220/kg rate,” officials said.
 Director, Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution Department Kashmir Abdul Waheed Tak said: ‘We have held a meeting with the dealers and let people wait for sometime. But we won’t allow anyone to sell mutton at exorbitant rates’. 
 Meanwhile people are facing acute shortage of mutton. “The government should sort out the issue with the dealers so that the common people are not put to inconvenience,” said Abdul Latief of Sekidaffar.

Lastupdate on : Thu, 7 Apr 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 7 Apr 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 8 Apr 2011 00:00:00 IST