Prices of essential commodities sky-rocket

 

 ‘Vegetables, meat, sold at higher than Govt approved rates’

Raouf Dar

Srinagar, Oct 27: Even though the administration had constituted special market-checking squads to prevent overpricing of commodities, the consumers complain that prices of essential commodities have sky-rocketed during the past week.

The consumers allege that the essentials items are being sold at higher prices without any regard to rate lists issued by authorities.

People allege that administration has given free hand to the unscrupulous traders to loot the consumers.

“We have no option but to buy vegetables at exorbitant rates. What can we do as the vendors refuse to sell them at CAPD approved rates,” said Shabir Ahmad, a resident of Bemina.

In most parts of Srinagar, the vendors were selling onion at Rs 70 per kg.

“Even Kashmiri Saag produced locally is being sold at Rs 50 to 60 per Kg, which is double the price fixed by CAPD,” Mudaisr Ahmad a Srinagar resident said.

Consumers blamed the Food Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department (FCS & CA) for not doing enough to cap the prices of essentials.

Like vegetables, meat and poultry products are also being sold at higher rates than what has been fixed by authorities.

Meat which is capped at Rs 440 per kg by authorities is being sold above Rs 600 per kg at most places in Srinagar.

During the last few weeks, vegetables like onion and potatoes have also witnessed increase in their rates.

The shoppers alleged shopkeepers are taking undue advantage and increasing the rates by their own.

They said there has been a tremendous increase in prices in the past 7 to 8 days, but the concerned authorities have failed to check the markets.

“If this is the state of the market at this juncture then what will be the prices in mid-winter. It will be harder for poor consumers to survive,” said a shopper.

An official of FCS & CA said the department is leaving no stone unturned to keep the rates in check.(KINS)

 

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