PRICES SOAR IN RAMADHAN

Consumers across Kashmir complained on Monday that the prices of food items including vegetables, fruit, chicken and meat in the local markets have risen sharply since the beginning of holy Ramadhan.

The consumers accused the authorities of failing to keep a check on the market.

   

As per a public notice, directorate of food, civil supplies and consumer affairs department Kashmir (FCSCA), has fixed Rs 110 per kilogram rate for the broiler, Rs 400/Kg for mutton without offal, for packed milk Rs 38/ kg, loose milk Rs 35/ Kg and egg Rs 50 per dozen.

However, according to the consumers, in most of the cases the rates are not adhered to by the shopkeepers. 

“The rate list issued by the department has no relevance in the market. Almost everyone sells at the rate he wishes,” complained a consumer. 

“The chicken is being sold at Rs 120 to 140 per kilogram, the mutton with offal at Rs 430 to 450 per kilogram,” Arshid Ahmad, a shopper at Hari Singh High Street, said.

He said the traders and the shopkeepers were taking “undue” advantage of the holy month of Ramadhan and were selling the essential commodities at exorbitant prices.

Shabir Ahmad of Barbar Shah, here, said, “In this holy month when there should have been some rebate on essential commodities, the situation in Srinagar is completely reverse.” 

“Here,” he said, “the prices have sharply gone high especially that of the fruits. Surprisingly, the prices widely vary from one shop to another.” 

Even the roadside vendors “are selling vegetables and fruits at exorbitant rates,” he claimed.

The consumers castigated the authorities for failing to ensure check on prices. “The department is claiming that it has been monitoring the markets through its checking squads, but the situation on the ground does not suggest so,” Mukhtar Ahmad of Pulwama said. 

He alleged that the department was not monitoring and checking the market.

Similar complaints were received from Budgam, Baramulla, Bandipora, Anantnag and other districts of Kashmir.

Minister for food, civil supplies and consumer affairs Muhammad Ashraf Mir said he would look into the matter. “I have issued directions to officials to give wide publicity to rate lists and take stern action under law against the violators,” he added.

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