Suhail Bhat
SRINAGAR, Nov 29: A sharp rise in the vegetable prices is becoming a new headache for the people in Kashmir as they cannot manage their household budget that is already under stress due to the pandemic.
Complaints about growing vegetable prices are pouring in from all across the Valley, with residents requesting authorities to rein in the prices, which have disrupted their daily budget. With the arrival of winter in Kashmir, vegetable costs have skyrocketed, making it difficult for people.
Local shops are currently selling tomatoes for around Rs 120 per kg, onions for around Rs 60 per kg, and peas for around Rs 100 per kg. Other vegetables, such as potato, collard greens, radish, and carrots, are also being sold at very high price.
According to the wholesale rate list, tomatoes and peas are priced at Rs 60 and Rs 40-45 per kilogramme, respectively. Similarly, wholesale rates for carrot, radish, and turnip are Rs 20-25 per kilogramme, Rs 15-20 per kilogramme, and Rs 19-10 per kilogramme, respectively, but all of these veggies are being sold at double rates, with people accusing the government of acting as mute spectator.
The vegetable dealers agreed but insisted that the local dealers were selling them at outrageous prices. “The rates are normally higher in winters, but they are not as high as they are being offered to the people. The CAPD should establish a rate list and take stern action against erring vegetable sellers,” said, Bashir Ahmad, President of the Fruit and Vegetable Association of Batamallo.
Consumers are already irritated by price increases in important commodities like cooking oil, but the increasing prices of veggies have just contributed to their worries. They accuse the concerned authorities of being mute on the subject, causing the people to suffer at the hands of vegetable vendors.
Tomatoes, beans, drumsticks, and ladyfingers are among the most commonly consumed veggies, and their prices are steadily rising. “What should one do with tomatoes and peas selling for Rs 100 per kg, collards greens, chillies for Rs 70, French beans for Rs 100 a kilogramme? It’s the beginning of winter here, and prices are already rising; what could we expect in the days ahead?” another resident said.
Director Food Civil Services and Consumer Affairs, Abdul Salam admitted that the vegetables are being sold at higher rates, but prices are out of their control. “Our teams are on the ground round the clock to put a check on the erring shopkeepers who are violating the rate lists. No one will be allowed to defy the rates,” he said.
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