WE THE PEOPLE
Why prices of Vegetables have soared high when Kashmir’s three Districts alone produce 1.7 lakh metric tones annually?
Hence People urge not only State functionaries, but Civil Society too to launch drive against Sharks of Society.
By: Mirror News Service
Srinagar: Kashmir is again on boil and there seems no end to human sufferings, but such woeful tales have no effect on Vegetable Vendors and on all those, who control markets in the Valley. The prices of edibles, especially those of vegetables have assumed an upward trend with no one to check and rein the Profiteers, Black-marketers and Hoarders. The State functionaries seem to have gone into hibernation and left the Sharks to fleece common masses with impunity.
It needs to be mentioned that vegetable production in Kashmir valley has presently gone up to 1.7 lakh metric tones annually. Nearly 27,000 hectares of land is under vegetable cultivation with Srinagar, Budgam and Pulwama emerging as major vegetable production players. The floating gardens within the famous Dal Lake make also a good contribution. The vegetables are reportedly being dispatched to Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh.
It has also come to our notice that vegetables worth RS.2 billion were exported from Kashmir to other places of India last year. In the last Rabi crop, about 33750 tones of Radish,4200 tones of Spinach,39120 tones of turnip and 315000 tones of carrot were produced in Kahmir.While garlic, onion and peas were also produced in sufficient quantities.
The Vegetable farmers of Kashmir have opted for cultivation of exotic vegetables, as it has turned out to be more beneficial to them than growing the ingeniously grown varieties. A large number of farmer of Kashmir have been successful in their experiments with the cultivation of exotic vegetable varieties bringing most of the seeds from European Union Nations. The farmers in different parts of Kashmir Valley have been successfully growing varieties like red cabbage, Savoy type cabbage, green rocket, Broccoli, B Sprouts, red fire lettuce and a host of others.
In view of above cited facts, it is perturbing to every one to see the rising prices of vegetables despite achieving self-sufficiency. There is no relief in sight for the general public as the prices of main vegetables like tomatoes, potatoes and onions are rising at abnormal rate with every dawn in the valley.
As regards State administration, it is supposed to maintain price-line and make essential commodities available in abundance. No doubt, copies of approved rate-lists are seen hanging on most of the shops, but are being openly flouted and the shoppers charged exorbitant rates with no one to check them. The Divisional Administration had appointed Executive Magistrates for different areas to enforce approved rates to ensure availability of edibles, but they are conspicuously missing in most of the areas. The butchers sell mutton at Rs220/Kg and slaughter animals without getting them examined by the Veterinarians/ Health Officer of Srinagar Municipal Corporation.
The case of poultry dealers is no different as they charge exorbitant rates without any check from any quarter. The garment dealers and bakery shops do not lag behind and resort to profiteering of high order. People are also hunting and searching cooking gas and kerosene oil as most of the dealers of such items hoard such items. This is a sorry state of affairs and people are left to the mercy of Allah. It is alleged that some Ghat Munshis at Ration Depots have entered into nexus with Rice/ Sugar Vendors and sell them these items, thereby depriving the real persons of their edibles.
Moreover, complaints pour in from different quarters that contractors, Suppliers and others are not being paid their payments due to paucity of funds. We know that the Central Government has launched several massive development programmes and reportedly placed funds at the disposal of the State Government. If it is so then there should be no difficulty in releasing payments to the concerned claimants. The State Chief Minister is on record to have uttered on various occasions that funds are no problem and it is only for the State functionaries to spend money on execution of works meant for welfare of the people. This shows there is some gap somewhere.
Hence People urge not only State functionaries, but Civil Society too to launch drive against Sharks of Society so that fleecing of common masses comes to an end without any further delay!
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