Suhail Bhat
SRINAGAR, Apr 29: The mutton retailers across the Valley are fleecing the customers by selling the meat at exorbitant rates and doubling the problems of the people who are already battling with the Coronavirus pandemic.
The people said they are forced to purchase the meat at whatever prices fixed by the retailers who are charging anything between Rs 600 to Rs 700 which is around Rs 200-300 more than the price fixed by the Government.
“There is no fixed rate. The shopkeepers have their own rates and it varies from one place to another. They sell it for Rs 500, Rs 550 and Rs 600. I purchased meet at Rs 600 yesterday from Nowhatta,” Javeed Pathan, a resident of old city told Excelsior.
Authorities, however, said that they keep a tight vigil to prevent the profiteering by the traders and cases would be filed against violators. “We have received complaints that people are selling meat in their homes and it very difficult to raid homes under the current situation. But we have formed a squad who will raid the mutton retailers and take action against them. They have to adhere to the approved rates by the government,” Director of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs (FCS& CA), Bashir Ahmad told Excelsior.
The problem is not restricted to Srinagar alone. People from other parts of the Valley shared similar concerns. They accused the administration of acting as a mute spectator to the violations. “Authorities are not able to control the mutton retailers. They are openly selling meat at higher prices in the market. I was forced to buy meat at Rs 600 form Pattan market,” Peerzada Manzoor Ahmad, a resident of Baramulla told Excelsior.
What has made things worse for the people is that the price-hike has come amidst the Holy month of Ramadhan when meat consumption increases in the Valley. People lamented that the Government’s failure to keep the prices under check has increased their woes.
However, traders said the lack of regulation on the trade is encouraging the shopkeepers to sell the meat at exorbitant rates. Over the years, they said, the traders have been buying the meat from the designated markets from across the country but dealers are unable to buy the stock form the wholesale markets due to the ongoing lockdown. “Whatever mutton reaches here comes through an illegal supply chain by people who are not licensed,” General Secretary, All Kashmir Wholesale Mutton Dealers Association, Mehrajud-Din told Excelsior.
He added that the practice not only affects the genuine trades but also the common consumers. “The illegal operators who do not have any know-how of the trade buy meat at higher prices from outside markets and put the burden on common consumers. The government should either stop the illegal trade or regulates it properly,” he said.
Mutton prices have gone from Rs 125 in 2008 to Rs 340 per kilogramme in 2013 and now the retailers are selling it at Rs 600 per kg.
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