Suhail Rather
Bandipora, April 05: The prices of all essential commodities — including fruits and vegetables — have skyrocketed since the commencement of the holy month of Ramadan in Bandipora, where authorities have turned a deaf ear towards the suffering of the people.
Agitated Consumers express concern over rising prices of essential commodities during Ramadan and expressed concern over administration's failure to check prices.
While alleging the authorities of leaving them at the mercy of profiteers and hoarders, the consumers said, “Shopkeepers and street vendors selling fruits vegetables and meat are busy fleecing poor customers as there is no mechanism in place to curb overpricing.”
They said the meat sellers have closed their shops from past one month and selling meat even at Rs 700 per Kg with impunity as administration has failed to act tough against these erring traders.
A consumer, Showket Ahmad Wani, said that no shopkeeper or street vendor is bothered about complying with the rate list issued by Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs (FCS&CA) department. “The bananas are being sold at Rs 130- Rs180 a dozen and Saag at Rs 80,” he said adding that the retailers are not the only cause for the overpricing, but the wholesalers are the equal shareholders in the sky touching rates.
Locals said local bread makers and other retailers have increased the prices on their own whims and wishes with market checking squads not visible in the markets.
Locals further alleged that no essential commodity is being sold at the rates fixed by the government. “The prices of essential commodities including fruits and vegetables have witnessed hike and common people are pushed to wall” said Jahangeer Ahmad.
As per the FCS&CA rate list, the price of potato has been fixed at Rs 18 (white potato) and Rs 22 per kilo gram (red potato), onions at Rs 22 per kg while the rate of tomatoes has been fixed at Rs 26 per kg.
Among the traditional vegetables, the price of Saag has been fixed at Rs 50 per kg. Price of bananas as per their quality has been fixed at Rs 80 and Rs 120 per dozen. However the consumers reasoned that these prices are rarely adhered to. However in different Bandipora markets, tomato is being sold at Rs 60 a kg, beans are sold at Rs 80, potatoes Rs 50 while chicken sells at 150-160 per kg.
Mohammad Arif, a local comsumer said, that he was buying a tray of eggs containing two-and-half-dozen eggs at 150 rupees while yesterday the same cost him 190 rupees. There are no rate lists with the vegetable sellers. They have also hiked the prices of locally grown vegetables like nadru, turnip, radish, etc. while the administration is passing the buck.
Local residents said that the government has failed to put in place market checking squads which was resulting into the hike in prices of essential commodities.
The black marketing of the essential commodities is touching heights and people are made to suffer ruthlessly as authorities have failed to crack a whip against those who are found involved in black marketing in open, the government seems to have given an underhand approval to such a practice,” he added.
An official of Food Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, Bandipora said that market checking is being conducted to curb overpricing. He said that joint teams have been formed to implement government rates and take action against violators. He urged locals to coperate with the government by paying only governement prices only and identify the violators so that action can be taken against them.
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