Taking advantage of Srinagar-Jammu highway closure due to inclement weather, shopkeepers and vendors selling essential commodities have hiked prices of vegetables and meat across Kashmir.
As the only road link connecting Kashmir to the rest of the world remained closed for the fourth consecutive day on Thursday, traders were seen defying government notified rate list of essentials and selling goods much dearer than the prescribed prices.
Kashmiri haakh which was being sold at Rs 30 per kilogram prior to the recent snowfall is now costing almost Rs 70 per kg. Similarly potatos are being sold Rs 40 a kg. As per the government rate list, it was fixed at Rs 18 (white potato) and Rs 22 per kilogram (red potato).
Ali Muhammad Khan of Khanyar told Greater Kashmir that shopkeepers like always are misusing the road-closure and indulging in an open loot. He said on the ground, market-checking authorities were missing.
“Most of the shops don’t display the rate-list. I made a phone call to CAPD but no market checking has been conducted here as rates of essentials continue to sky-rocket,” said Khan. “Shopkeepers have raised the rates of almost all sorts of vegetables and fruits ever since the highway has been closed,” he added.
Consumers said at some places in city markets, mutton was being sold Rs 40 to Rs 60 costlier than fixed price. “Chicken at some places sells at Rs 120 per kg while others sell the same at Rs 140 per kg. There is no fixed price,” said Basit Ahmad of Hyderpora.
In last few days the prices of even the locally grown vegetables have been escalated, which other ways, has no connection with the road closure. Nadru produced from the Dal was notified to be sold at Rs 175 per bunch but is now costing Rs 250 – Rs 300.
Bashir Ahmad Basheer, president, Parimpora Fruit Mandi said hundreds of fruits and vegetable-laden trucks enroute to the Valley are stranded on the Srinagar-Jammu highway resulting in shortage of certain variety of goods. Basheer said shortage has resulted in price hike in the retail market.
“The impact of road closure does have an impact on supplies. For last four days we have not received any trucks in the mandi. The market situation with regard to goods availability and price stability could worsen if road closure continues,” said Basheer.
Absence of a revised notified rate-list in the market is also adding to the burden of consumers as vendors and shopkeepers are arbitrarily increasing prices of essentials. Consumers said it has been more than two months ever since consumer affairs and public distribution (CAPD) department last revised its rate list for essentials. “Last time the rate-list was issued in November while as it is mandatory for the department to revise these rates every month,” said another consumer.
When contacted, Muhammad QasimWani, director, CAPD told Greater Kashmir that several market checking teams were making surprise checks to keep a check on overpricing. However, Wani admitted that the department has been unable to revise rate-list due to frequent snowfall and road-closure.
“We have been considering revising the rate-list but were waiting for weather conditions to become stable and highway to open. We will be issuing a revised rate list soon. We appeal general public to cooperate with us and inform us whenever they are being overcharged,” said Wani.