Jammu and Kashmir’s inflation rate as per Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the month of June is 3.74 percent – much higher than all-India average of 3.18 percent – making the Himalayan state as one of the most expensive place in India to live.
According to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) data for Junereleased by Union Ministry of Statistics And Program Implementation, J&K isamong states where the inflation rate is on the higher side compared to 3.18percent national average. The high inflation is significant in view of thefrequent closure and restrictions on Jammu-Srinagar national highway, which hasbeen causing price hike in essential commodities.
Traders say goods lying stranded on the national highway fordays has been causing shortage of supplies on regular basis. This as pertraders is a reason for price hike witnessed throughout this year. Bashir AhmadBasheer, president of Parimpora Fruit Mandi says prices of goods which startedsky-rocketing during national highway closure in January this year has seen norespite.
“Truck loads of goods and livestock don’t find it so easy totravel from Mughal Road due to the terrain and condition of the road. As aresult they get stuck on national highway for days. Supplies take several daysto reach the markets, which hits prices,” said Bashir.
He said that apart from highway closure and recentrestrictions on civilian traffic due to ongoing Amarnath Yatra, a huge demandof supplies for marriage season has also increased prices of goods especiallyvegetables and mutton. “This time of year we have sufficient produce of localvegetables. But other outside fruits and vegetables on which we are dependenton witness a sudden price hike,” Bashir said.
Interestingly, as per official data, retail inflationcontinued to climb across the country during the month of June 2019, reachingan eight-month high of 3.18 percent. The retail inflation figures during theyear-ago period in June 2018 were 4.92 percent, and 3.05 percent during May2019. The retail inflation, calculated on the basis of Consumer Price Index(CPI), has been on the rise since January this year.
Meanwhile, prices of mutton in the Valley have also beenwitnessing a sharp increase while consumers blame the government for failing tonotify the fixed prices of this essential commodity. After fluctuation inprices of mutton and its varying prices in different markets, Food, Civil Suppliesand Consumer Affairs Department during month of Ramadhan had decided to go fora price review of mutton which it has not done so far.
“This whole year has been full of difficulties for smoothdelivery of goods to the Valley due to either closure of highway or ban forcivillian traffic on it. What government has failed to do is to have a pricemechanism for the mutton industry causing arbitrary hike,” said Mehraj-u-dinGanai, general secretary of All Kashmir Wholesale Mutton Dealers Association.
“After taking a firm stand that prices of mutton will bereviewed, there has been no action from the government and mutton continues tobe sold at Rs 500 per kg. Even the traders who had met several representativesfrom the administration including CAPD in the past are non-committal on thepresent arbitrary prices,” said Ganai.