Rates will normalize’ ‘Supply not stopped, they don’t follow fixed rates: Director FCS&A
Ishtiyaq Ahmed
Srinagar, May 17 (KINS): The mutton dealers and the Department of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs (FCS&CA) are at loggerheads over the sale of mutton in Kashmir.
While the Dealers say that the sufficient supply of mutton is not available in the markets and yet the government doesn’t allow their vehicles laden with stock to cross Lower Munda, the FCS&A on the contrary say that mutton is available but dealers don’t follow the fixed rate which is Rs 440 per kg.
However, in the growing differences between mutton dealers and the government, people are not able to get mutton from the markets in Kashmir including the capital city of Srinagar.
“We are in a dilemma,” Mehrajudin, General Secretary Kashmir Mutton Dealers Association told news agency KINS. “We are somehow managing mutton supplies by personally going to the outside mandis, but our vehicles are being stopped at Lower Munda and not allowed to enter Kashmir on the pretext that we don’t have valid license. The fact is that since 2013 not a single license was renewed and government knows it well.”
“What will we sell when mutton supply is chocked at Lower Munda,” Mehrajudin said. Asked why butchers were selling mutton at high rates as reports even poured that mutton per KG was being sold at Rs 600, he admitted saying that there was very little stock available with the dealers. “That’s why there is bit high rate. Let government allow the supplies reach Kashmir, rates will normalize,” he said.
He also said that government has not listed mutton in essential supply category yet as there is only mention of milk, medicine and vegetables. “So the uncertainty is growing,” he said.
On the other hand, Director, Department of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs (FCS&CA) Bashir Ahmad said that supply is reaching Kashmir every day. “Five to six trucks laden with livestock reaches Kashmir every day. But the question is that mutton is sold at much higher rates than fixed by us. We asked mutton dealers to sell one KG at Rs 440, but on ground, we see they are selling per KG meat at Rs 600 and even more. We will not allow that to happen,” Director told news agency KINS.
He said on Saturday, there was an inspection by the deputy director CAPD, Joint director and other officers in which 14 meat sellers were booked of which FIR was lodged against four mutton sellers.
In this tussle between dealers and the government, people are facing tough time to buy meat. “I went to Khonmoh area of Srinagar outskirts to get meat. After hectic efforts, I finally got it Rs 550 per KG. The mutton seller told me that he wasn’t sure whether supply would be available on Eid eve,” said Abid Rashid, a resident of Pantha Chowk, Srinagar.(KINS)
