Srinagar, Feb 14: With Valley reeling under curfew for last five days, consumers from various areas today complained black marketing and hoarding by some traders.
 The consumers said some unscrupulous traders were resorting to black marketing and hoarding and selling essential commodities at exorbitant rates.  
 “Many traders are overcharging in absence of any supervision by the Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution Department,” the consumers said.
 “I was surprised when the butcher asked me to pay at the rate of Rs 350/kg for mutton,” said Muhammad Ayoub of Soura.
 “When I argued with the butcher, he told me that rates have been increased by the wholesalers. But I fail to understand how can they increase the prices unilaterally without there being any notification from the CAPD,” he asked.
 The case with other essential commodities is no different.
 A group of consumers at vegetable market, Soura told Greater Kashmir that “there is loot going on in the market. The vegetable vendors are taking advantage of the situation by charging arbitrarily thus increasing their profit margin without thinking about the people,” they said.
 “Almost all the vegetables are being sold here at exorbitant rates,” the consumers complained.
 Similarly poultry birds are sold at Rs 135 per kg which is in violation of the rate list issued by CAPD.
 However, the retail mutton dealers’ association passed the buck to the outside mandis and CAPD officials.
 Khazir Muhammad Regoo, president, retail mutton dealers’ association said: “Presently, the rate for mutton in outside mandis is Rs 320 to Rs 330 per kg. How it is possible for us to sell it here at just Rs 300.”
 “We have been time and again urging CAPD to revise the rates of mutton but to no avail,” he said. Similarly, the vegetable sellers have a different story to tell. “When there is no movement of trucks which ferry vegetables from one place to another, naturally there is shortage of vegetables in the market that in turn pushes up the prices,” they said.
 When contacted, Deputy Director, CAPD, Shafqat Iqbal said: “We will take cognizance of the complaints and take action.”
 However, some other CAPD officials who wished not to be named expressed their helplessness over the situation saying that it was not possible for them to conduct market checking during curfew.

Lastupdate on : Thu, 14 Feb 2013 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 14 Feb 2013 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 15 Feb 2013 00:00:00 IST