Majority shopkeepers not displaying rate list
Suhail Bhat
SRINAGAR, Apr 21: The prices of essential commodities including meat, chicken, fruits and vegetables have risen sharply with the onset of the holy month of Ramadan in Kashmir with people accusing the Department of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs (FCS&CA) for failing to put a check on the exorbitant rates.
People complain that the prices of vegetables, fruits, and other items are 20-60 percent higher than the Government-approved rates. They alleged the shopkeepers are not adhering to the rates fixed by the FCS&CA and complaints of profiteering are pouring in from almost all the small and big markets of the Valley.
The customers said that they have been raising the voice, but the department has failed to address the public inconvenience. The Government, which understands the financial conditions of the people, must ensure a strict check on inflation. “They are selling fruits and vegetables at their own rates with no fear,” Riyaz Ahmad, a resident of Pampore said, adding that the Food Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department’s failure to conduct an extensive market check ahead of Ramadan gave free hand to the erring shopkeepers.
No fruit and vegetable seller is displaying the rate list of items in front of their shops and roadside kiosks, leaving them with no choice but to buy the essential at an exorbitant price. “We cannot even argue with them as we are unaware of the government-approved rate. Authorities are doing nothing about it,” a local said.
Omar Ahmad, a resident of Bagh-e Mehatab area of Srinagar, said that he purchased chicken at Rs 180 per kilogram, which is over Rs 50 higher than the fixed price. Similarly, the meat is being sold at Rs 600 per kilogram, against the approved Rs. 535. “Shop-keepers are not willing to sell at government-approved rates and lack of proper monitoring is making things worse for people,” he said.
The rates of vegetables have also skyrocketed over the past few days. A Kg of peas, which was just Rs 50 per Kg a fortnight ago, is being sold at Rs 80 per Kg. Even lettuce costs Rs 80 per Kg while a Kg of tomato costs Rs 60.
Similarly, the prices of fruits and vegetables being imported from outside have also gone up. Fruits like watermelon, which is consumed in abundance during Ramadan, is being sold at Rs 40 Kg.
While admitting that some erring shopkeepers are selling fruits and vegetables at higher prices, Director, Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs (FCS&CA), Abdul Salman Mir, told Excelsior that they have activated the market checking squads across the Valley to curb the overcharging.
Asked about the absence of rate lists, he said, “we have directed all the shopkeepers to paste the rate list in front of their shops and everyone should abide by that.”
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