Price hike

In this holy month of Ramadan, the government has failed so far to control the prices in the markets of Srinagar and other parts of Kashmir. By acting against small shopkeepers of Srinagar and districts, the government is only compounding the problem. There is further hike in the prices and the wholesalers have not been tackled by the government so far. The price rise can be stopped only if the government will act against the wholesalers and will try to control the prices on the top.

In this direction, Governor’s administration has recently issued a fervent appeal to both wholesaler and retailer associations to advise their members to observe self-restraint and collectively decide not to charge more than the prices fixed by the Government.

Advisor in-charge Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs Department, made this appeal in light of possible disruptions on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway due to forecast of intermittent rains over the next few days and the holy month of Ramadhan. He said the Government would take all proactive steps to ensure that people do not face any hardships in the availability of essential commodities during Ramadhan.  The Advisor further stated that the prices have been fixed after taking into consideration all market forces which leaves no room for an undue spike in the prices of essential commodities.  He warned that strict action will be taken against those wholesalers and retailers who shoot up prices abnormally and violate the rates fixed by the Government.

The government will have to act more firmly agiant the wholesalers and also go for market checking on daily basis so as to control the prices. In absence of such mechanism, the government will face a tough challenge from the shopkeepers and wholesalers as they are still selling mutton, chicken, vegetable and fresh fruit at exorbitant prices in this holy month of Ramadan.