Ganderbal residents feel pinch of price rise

Ganderbal, Mar 19: The consumers across the Ganderbal district have complained about the soaring prices of essential commodities including vegetables, fruits, chicken and mutton during the holy month of Ramadhan.

The locals from almost all the areas of the district including Gund, Lar, Kangan, Ganderbal, Safapora and other areas said that the prices of essential commodities especially the vegetables, fruits, chicken have sharply increased in the holy month of Ramadhan here, accusing the authorities of failing to check and regulate the prices.

“Mutton is sold at Rs 600-700 while chicken is sold at Rs 160-180 “ a consumer from Kangan area said. Another consumer said that 1 kg of tomato is sold at Rs 60 while collard green ( Haakh) is sold at Rs 80 per kg and Brinjal Rs 80 per kg.

“It is unfortunate that the authorities have failed to control prices and act against the hoarders and black marketers,” Mehraj Ahmad of Ganderbal said. The people said the authorities should put in place strict measures to check profiteering and take action against erring shopkeepers and traders.

“People used to say that if they couldn’t buy mutton or chicken, they would manage by eating vegetables, but today it appears that the poor can’t afford both,” said Muhammad Shafi, a local resident.

However, the shopkeepers have a different story to tell. “We get the supply from wholesale distributors and we get it at higher rates from them. The authorities should regulate prices at their level as we are bound to sell it as per the rates with some margin.”

An official said that the market checking teams have been conducting checks in different markets to control the prices of essential commodities in Ganderbal district.