Srinagar, Aug 11 (ANI): Residents of Jammu and Kashmir's Srinagar city on Thursday complained that the prices of fruits, vegetables and meat in local markets have risen sharply during the holy month of Ramadan.
The locals also complained that the state government has not ensured enough measures to keep a check on the rising food prices.
They said the shopkeepers have been taking undue advantage of the festival season and have been selling these essential commodities at varying prices, pegged by them.
Gulam Nabi, a local, said that Muslims feel the pinch when they buy fruits, vegetables and meat at such inflated prices, but festivities leave them with no other alternative.
"In the holy month of Ramadan when prices should have been low, the situation in Kashmir is completely opposite. Here, at this time, the prices have skyrocketed especially that of fruits. It's being sold in one place at Rs. 40 and in another place at Rs. 50 or at even Rs. 80, there is no fixed price," said Nabi.
"Government is claiming that they have been monitoring the markets, but situation still remains bad," he added.
The locals here blamed the state government, particularly the Consumer Affairs Public Distribution (CAPD) Department for not monitoring and checking the market prices during the month of Ramadan, when shopkeepers tend to fix prices at high rates.
"The government is to be blamed or rather the food supplies department who has not been checking the rates in the markets. I went to a meat shop and asked the price, he quoted it to be Rs. 250 when the government has fixed it at Rs. 240. When I told this to the seller, he said I was not in my right mind," said another local Bashir Ahmad.
"If I fight, police would take me into task and not the seller. Fruits are being sold at varying prices, apples and fruits are local products, they should be the least priced. Vegetables are also being sold at extremely high prices, what will a poor man eat?" he added.
The Director of Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution Department, Abdul Wahid Tak, refuted these charges and said the department has been regularly monitoring the market with increased department checks conducted in this period.
Tak affirmed that some sellers were taking advantage of the festival season and were selling commodities at higher rates.
"The market is being checked by our department on a regular basis, even before the holy month of Ramadan began. I myself have gone with an official to take a round in the markets. Lal Bazaar, Down Town, Hazrat Bal, Qamarwari, I have personally taken rounds in these markets," said Tak.
"Deputy Director and other senior officials too have taken rounds; the inspection, in fact, has been stepped up considering the festival season," he added.
Ramadan is the ninth and holiest month in the Islamic calendar in which Muslims are required to abstain from food, drink, smoking and sex from dawn to dusk. (ANI)
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