By: Firdous Qadri
Srinagar: The administration has fixed the retail price of mutton at Rs 535 per kilogram without offal and Rs 490 with it, Kashmir Economic Alliance representative Farooq Ahmad Dar flanked by representatives of various Mutton dealers associations announced on Wednesday. “The fresh rates would be applicable across Kashmir from tomorrow,” Dar said.
While an official announcement was awaited and is expected on Thursday, the fixing of fresh rates for mutton brings to end a four month long disagreement between the government and the mutton dealers.
Ever since the administration fixed the retail price of mutton at Rs 480 per kilogram in November last year, there was a deadlock with dealers demanding a review even as the price is Rs 40 higher than the previously fixed rate in 2016. However it’s about Rs 120 less than what the dealers were selling the highly sought after commodity in Kashmir with a consumption of around 1,000 lakh kg/year.
The deadlock ended after dealers held series of meetings with Divisional Commissioner Kashmir and Director Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs. Earlier several rounds of talks between the dealers and divisional administration had failed to break the ice as the sellers had rejecting the revised government rate even offering Rs 515 per kg in the last meeting on March 6. (GNS)
