The mutton supply to Kashmir has been badly hit as the outside mandis remain closed due to COVID19 lockdown.
Director, Food CivilSupplies and Consumer Affairs, Bashir Ahmad Khan said the supply was expectedto increase as the mandis in Delhi and other states were likely to functionfrom May 3.
“We are aware that there ishuge demand for mutton in the Valley which further increases during Ramadhan.As of now the supplies have stopped due to closure of outside mandis so we havenot even fixed the price for the mutton” Khan said.
Mehraj-ud-Din Ganai, general secretary, All KashmirWholesale Mutton Dealers’ Association said the local sheep farmers are sellinganimals at high rates. “We receive only one or two truckloads of sheep dailyfrom outside Kashmir. The transportation cost is quite high which adds to the costof mutton,” Ganai said.
“The local mutton supply isquite low,” Ganai said.
Meanwhile, consumers fromseveral areas complained overpricing of vegetables and fruits.
“Ever since the lockdownstarted, shopkeepers are selling vegetables and fruits at higher prices. Theydon’t adhere to the price list and even the enforcement teams of the CAPD aremissing on the ground,” said Basit Ahmad of Hyderpora.
However, Director FCSCAsaid the market checking teams were regularly making surprise visits to shopsselling essential goods. “We have collected Rs 1 lakh on fine from erringshopkeepers. Our appeal for people is to cooperate and report cases ofoverpricing,” Khan said.