Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 4: The people in Rajouri and other districts of Jammu have expressed grave concern over the hike in of prices of mutton by the butchers on the eve of Eid and accused the authorities of not maintaining check on the same.
According to sources the Government in Rajouri has fixed the rate of mutton Rs 350 per kg while the same was sold for Rs 400 and Rs 450 a kg with offal by butchers in the Rajouri town and other areas of the district.
Sources said there is total lack of check as no stamp is laid on mutton by the concerned department while slaughtering the lamb or a goat at the slaughter house which has been mandatory to certify the quality of mutton. Even the pregnant goats or sheep are slaughtered for sale and no quality of mutton is maintained, sources added.
The people complained that slaughter houses are not used for slaughtering the goats and sheep but the butchers either use their shops or houses for the same purpose.
However, the DC Rajouri, Aijaz Ahmed Asad said that he has not received any such complaint and in case any one will be found violating the norms and selling mutton on exorbitant rates he will be taken to task.
Chairman of Rajouri Municipal Council, Arif Jatt said that rate was increased today as the demand increased. He however said that authorities have taken the cognizance of the same and it will act against the erring butchers. Regarding maintaining quality of the mutton, he said earlier Municipality was controlling the same by making a constant check but these powers have been snatched from it by the Government and the same is now being done by Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department.
He said the slaughter House of Rajouri Municipality was declared technically unfit and the butchers prepare the mutton either at their residences or shops or other places.
Even the chicken is also sold at exorbitant rates by the butchers in open violation of rates prescribed by the administration in the Rajouri district, people complained.
The same complaints were received by other districts of the Jammu including Kishtwar, Ramban, Doda and the people said that the mutton was being sold on exorbitant rates while there is no check of the administration on the same.
The people have expressed their grave resentment against the failure of the administration in maintaining check on market especially on the eve of Eid.
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