WE THE PEOPLE
Even with the appointment of Nodal Officers, Prices of Building Materials remain unchecked in Kashmir Valley
Hence People urge Divisional Administration to enforce Approved Rates for such materials to end Profiteering
By: MNS/ Uzair Khan
SRINAGAR: It was some years back that the State government appointed Nodal Officers to check cost of building materials to curb undue profiteering by the suppliers of such materials, but owing to laxity on their part fleecing of the intending Buyers remains unchecked in the valley of Kashmir. The concerned dealers have remained engaged in fleecing the customers with impunity. It was the then Minister in-charge Roads and Buildings Department, who ordered that nodal officers shall be charged with the responsibility to calculate the differences in the rates of building materials used in the Valley of Kashmir. He had also impressed upon executing agencies to complete all government works cl-assified as phase-5 under PMGSY Programme and rates of building materials were ordered to be arrived at on negotiable rates in every district. The rates of materials and labour component were fixed district-wise and rates of additional components like royalty and other minor items were examined besides rates of cement, steel and sand fixed.
This was done to arrive at uniform rates for such materials as the suppliers have developed a tendency to hike the prices at their own sweet will. In the process the common people engaged in the construction of their buildings get fleeced with no one to redress their grievances. Charging nodal officers with the responsibility of arriving at rates for various building materials was to streamline and stabilize prices, but it seems that such order has remained confined to records and the suppliers given free rope to charge customers high rates without any check from any quarter.
Similarly, the Department of Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution Department (CAPDD) stands charged with the responsibility of fixing prices for edibles and to enforce the same so that common masses are not affected. The Divisional administration has also created a checking squad for checking the rates of mutton, poultry, vegetables, fruits and other items to ensure that rates fixed by the concerned Department are followed in letter and spirit. What is our common observation is the said Squads appear once in a blue moon and impose fine on some traders, giving thereby wide publicity to their actions. If such Squads would frequently undertake checks, no room would be left for black-marketing, profiteering and hoarding. Moreover, it is the duty of the officials of CAPDD to enforce rates of mutton publicized recently. It is no use to fix rates, which are not practicable at the ground level.
“With launching of massive developmental programmes in Kashmir Valley under Centrally sponsored schemes, the dealers dealing with the sale of building materials have hiked prices beyond one’s imagination. They go on raising prices with no one to control them and the customers have no choice but to follow their dictations. With such a situation prevailing in the Valley, the cost of buildings has gone up to such an extent that most of the common people have abandoned plans to construct their dwellings. Same is the case with edibles as rate lists approved by CAPDD have turned into show pieces. The butchers are charging Rs.260/- against Rs240/per kg for mutton and poultry dealers go on changing rates with no one to check them. Even the bakers have reduced the weight of loaves and the quality of flour is also quite substandard. The case of vegetable vendors is no different as they continue to hike prices day by day. The milk vendors are reportedly adding more water with no one to check to specific gravity of the milk. It seems that State functionaries have gone on a long leave and left the dealers dealing either with building materials or edibles in their fiefdoms. It is a state of lawlessness which has never been witnessed in the past”, said a group of elderly persons of Kashmir Valley.
Therefore, it becomes imperative on the part of Divisional Administration to goad nodal officers into action so that the cost of building materials goes down and common man not allowed to fall prey to the vultures. The officials of CAPDD should equally come down heavily on those who indulge in black-marketing, profiteering and hoarding in Kashmir Valley.
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