In the aftermath of the Thursday snowfall in Kashmir and with the closure of Srinagar-Jammu highway, the prices of mutton and chicken here have sharply gone up.
On Friday the mutton and the chicken per kg were sold in the retail market here at Rs 550 and Rs 170 respectively.
The consumers complained overcharging and hoarding by some unscrupulous shopkeepers and failure of officials of the consumer affairs and public distribution department to check such practices.
Mudasir Ahmad, a consumer from Khayam here said the shopkeepers in the locality were selling chicken much above the government notified rates.
“When I objected to a shopkeeper who was selling the chicken at Rs 170 per kilogram, he asked me to leave the shop,” he said.
Abid, a consumer from Pampore said: “The CAPD does not see whether its orders are implemented on the ground. I paid Rs 550 for a kg of mutton.”
Shortage and overpricing of other perishables including vegetables and fruits was also complained by the consumers from different areas.
“There is shortage of fresh vegetables and fruits. Whatever is available in the market is being sold almost Rs 10 to Rs 20 above the approved rate list,” said another consumer.
As Jammu-Srinagar highway remained closed on Friday for the third consecutive day, goods worth crores of rupees laden in trucks are stuck on the highway connecting Valley to the rest of the world.
“With trucks stuck on the highway for days together, there is strong apprehension that the vegetables laden in them may have rotten,” many consumers said.
Mehraj-u-din Ganai, general secretary, All Kashmir Mutton Dealers’ Association said almost 70 trucks each laden with sheep worth Rs 8 lakh – Rs 10 lakh are stuck on the highway.
Ganai said there is severe shortage of mutton in Kashmir markets. “The mutton dealers are suffering daily losses of almost Rs 10 lakh due to trucks being stranded on the highway. Some retailers try to pass on the burden of their losses to consumers which is unethical,” said Ganai.
When contacted, Muhammad Qasim Wani, director, CAPD told Greater Kashmir that several market checking teams were making surprise checks in the markets to check overpricing. However, Wani admitted that the department has been unable to revise rate-list due to frequent snowfall and road-closure.
“It is very unfortunate that some shopkeepers are indulging in black marketing. We appeal people to be more cooperative and inform us whenever they come across incidents of overpricing,” said Wani.