Frequent highway closure triggers steep increase in prices of essentials

The prolonged closure of the Srinagar-Jammu highway has led to skyrocketing of prices of essential commodities in Kashmir, with the concerned officials failing to address the problem that has badly hit the pockets of common people.

In the past two weeks, the prices of essential items,especially vegetables, have increased manifold across the Valley, with thefood, civil supplies and consumer affairs department failing to crackdown onprofiteers.

   

“There is no rate list in the market right now,” said AjazLolpuri, a resident of Buchpora, Srinagar.

He said retailers are selling chicken at Rs 180 per-kg whichis much higher than the price noticed a few weeks before.

Similarly, vegetables are being sold at much higher prices.Even collard green, locally known as ‘haakh’, is sold at Rs 70 to Rs 80 per-kg.

Mutton, wherever available, is being sold at Rs 450 akilogram.

According to officials, heavy dependence on outside suppliesand shrinking farmlands are among major factors behind increasing prices ofessentials in Kashmir.

Recently, a report of the union ministry of consumeraffairs, pointed out that J&K leads the inflation tally, mainly because ofits dependence on outside supplies and failure to achieve targets of importsubstitution.

Being a landlocked region, Kashmir is wholly dependent onthe Srinagar-Jammu highway, which mostly remains closed during winters, forimport of food items.

Also, a single day of the Srinagar-Jammu highway closurecosts Kashmir economy around Rs 95 crore, according to rough estimates. 

The recently-released government figures say that J&Kimported goods and raw material worth Rs 58,050 crore in 2017-18, of which 60percent—around Rs 34,800 crore—is imported to the Kashmir division.

Director, FCS&CA, Muhammad Qasim Wani said they willissue a fresh rate list in next few days.

“We have deliberately not issued it because the rates ofessentials are very high at this moment due to prolonged closure of thehighway. Therefore once the supplies are restored fully, prices will comedown,” he said.

He said the road closure plays a key factor in determiningthe prices of essentials as it creates an imbalance in demand and supply. 

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