Masrat Nabi
Baramulla, April 01: Soaring prices of vegetables and food grains are burning a hole in the pockets of residents in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district during the ongoing COVID-19 lockdown.
Reports reaching Kashmir Despatch said The rates of vegetables have been doubled in the last few days as there is no check by the administration. The vendors and the shopkeepers are cashing in on the situation, across Baramulla town.
Samad a resident told Kashmir Despatch vegetables have become costlier in just one week. “We went to buy some vegetables found that Tomatoes were sold at Rs 60 per kg, Onion at Rs 50, cabbage and Raddish each 50. Cauliflower at 60-65 rupees per Kg which was 40 rupees kg earlier and oranges at 120 while as spinach is being sold at Rs 80 Isn’t this an open loot he said.
Amid this COVID lockdown, vegetable vendors are looting the public, and Govt is sleeping there should have been special teams to check how vendors are fleecing people but none is visible on the ground” said Shakeela Begum.
She said it is upon the local administration to check such incidents but its unfortunate admin is missing on the ground.
Earlier this day Baramulla police claimed to have arrested a wholesaler and a shopkeeper for overcharging the masses availing the stock for them.
A police officer told Kashmir Despatch two have been arrested in town for resorting to price hike despite clear directions and rate list from the concerned department.
A food officer told Kashmir Despatch Over Phone ”We have set up teams which conduct routine inspections in the market to check to overcharge. We have also asked shopkeepers to put up price lists in their shops to maintain transparency. We want to assure people that there is no shortage of basic commodities in the district.”
Pertinent to mention here, a team of Police under the supervision of Tehsildar Beerwah has sealed a shop at Aripathan area for selling essential commodities at higher prices.
