Srinagar, July 03 (KNS): Ahead of Eid al Fitr as shoppers are thronging markets, traders are resorting to arbitrary price hike of commodities and other goods, with complaints galore across the Valley.
Buyers on Sunday said they are forced to pay inflated prices for different items while they griped over government failure to ensure fair prices of essential commodities on Eid eve.
“Everyone wants to celebrate Eid happily but price hikes in items, including vegetables have been hiked,” said a customer while returning from veggie shop.
While people have started buying clothes, household items, and other good, they complained that shopkeepers have inflated prices.
Prices of products like mutton, poultry, bakery products, vegetables, cottage cheese, clothes and other items are likely to be shot up by the traders, even as the CAPD is yet to publish rate lists.
But officials said checking squads have been directed to the markets.
Director Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution, Mushtaq Ahmad said that shopkeepers have a “bad habit” of increasing arbitrarily price of commodities on the eve of festivals.
“Yes, it is true that traders resort to inflated sale of commodities. Inspection of markets has been intensified in the Valley on the directions of Chief Minister. CAPD has formed seven teams to check price rise by traders in the city. In addition, five Tehsildars have been formed in the city to check price rise by traders,” the director told KNS.
In towns, deputy commissioners have been directed to intensify market checking. Besides, Legal Metrology is also checking the markets, he said. (KNS)
We have CM’s direction to inspect markets: Dir CAPD