Amid COVID19 lockdown, consumers here complained that some shopkeepers were resorting to overcharging on essential commodities.
The consumers said that mutton at many places in Srinagarwas being sold at Rs 550 to Rs 600 per kg. Shockingly, at Rainawari a muttonseller was found selling meat at Rs 900 per kg on Sunday.
An official team along with the police on complaint sealedthe shop. “The SHO concerned has been asked to lodge FIR against the culprit,”an official said.
The price of vegetables has also skyrocketed in the last fewdays. At most of the local markets, a kg of Kashmiri Saag was sold at Rs 60,tomatoes and spinach at Rs 50 per kg each, and peas at Rs 80 per kg on Sunday.
“Officials need to check profiteering,” suggested JavidAhmad Bhat of Natipora. “We hope the zonal committees proposed by theadministration are made functional so that people know where and how to buythings at reasonable rates,” Bhat said.
Basheer Ahmad Bashir, president Parimpora Fruit Mandi saidthe vendors were overpricing despite sufficient stocks of vegetables and fruitsin Kashmir. “We have abundant stocks and continue to receive truckloads ofessential goods on daily basis,” Bashir claimed.
General Secretary, All Kashmir Wholesale Mutton DealersAssociation, Mehraj-u-din Ganai attributed the high price of the mutton tolimited number of wholesale dealers in Kashmir, and high transportation chargesbeing incurred on getting the sheep from Rajasthan.
People in various parts of the city complained that thezonal committees proposed by the administration for “helping” people to buyessential goods, etc. were missing on the ground.
When contacted, Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar, Dr ShahidIqbal Choudhary said the people across Red Zones in Srinagar have been urged tocontact the recently set up zonal committees in case of medical emergency or incase they need essential goods.
However, DC Srinagar admitted that there were challenges infront of the administration to ensure that people are not subjected toinconvenience during the lockdown.