Srinagar, May 14: In total disregard to government fixed rates, the bricks are being sold in the Valley at highly exorbitant prices.
 A cross-section of customers from various parts of the Valley called Greater Kashmir complaining overcharging by the brick kiln owners.
  “The kiln owners have unilaterally exorbitantly hiked the brick prices much to the trouble of the common people,” they said.
 “The prices have been increased by the kiln owners because they know this time around the construction material in the Valley usually remains in great demand,” Nasir Khan of Dargah said.
 “I was shocked to learn from the kiln that a truckload of bricks is priced at Rs 19,000,” Khan said, adding that the kiln owners were “fixing prices at their will, while the government does not do anything about it.”
 Some customers said a truckload of bricks costs more than Rs 20,000 in the city and its outskirts.
 “Bricks have become unaffordable for a common man. It seems the government has given full freedom to the kiln owners to loot the common consumers,” Bashir Ahmad, a consumer, said.
 When contacted, Khurshid Ahmad, Deputy Commissioner Budgam said: “We have not enhanced the rates this year. We have asked the brick kiln owners to adhere to rate list of the previous year.”    
 Pertinently, last year Deputy Commissioner Budgam had fixed rate for a truckload of A-class bricks at Rs 13500. The district alone has more than 100 kilns supplying bricks to almost entire Valley.
 “If there is violation of rate list set by the government, people should feel free to contact us  and we will take strong action against the kiln owners found violating the rate list and selling bricks at exorbitant rates,” the DC Budgam said.
 He, however, added: “We have requested the transport department to provide us rate list for freight. But so far we have not received any rate list.”
 To mention, the former DDC Budgam, Muhammad Rafi had sent a letter to Transport Commissioner for fixing the freight rate for transporting bricks from kilns to different places in the Valley.
 However, Transport Commissioner, Mehraj Ahmad Kakroo told Greater Kashmir that they were not concerned with fixing freight rates.
 “Freight rate may vary from place to place, but it has to be done by concerned authorities by keeping in consideration the distance and fuel consumption. But our department is not concerned with fixing these rates,” Kakroo added.

Lastupdate on : Thu, 14 Jun 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 14 Jun 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 15 Jun 2012 00:00:00 IST