There is an apparent mutton crisis in Srinagar after the Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs sealed some butcher shops for selling mutton at exorbitant rates. The climate demands mutton as the major portion of food in the Valley. Mutton dealers across the valley have been seen selling mutton at exorbitant rates against the government orders, mostly during the odd time of dawn and dusk, to evade the radar of Food officials who regulate the rates in markets.
Many believe the surge in mutton prices during the last five years, which is over 400 per cent, is the result of ‘unregulated’ practices prevailing in the sector. However the price rise is not exclusive to Kashmir, many other states in India saw such hikes in past few years which experts blame to increased transportation costs.
The administration needs to have control over the suppliers as well. Traditionally the supply chain of mutton in Kashmir was controlled by the dealers, locally known as Kothdars. But as the yearly sales touched the crore mark, Kothdars lost their monopoly over the supply chain, and the market is now ruled by powerful middlemen, due to which the supply chain of mutton got hijacked by these new players.
The government must control the rising prices of mutton in all districts. For the simple fact that the government is establishing the price, it is mandatory upon the government to see to it that the prices are implemented in letter and spirit.
After the government strictly implemented the price of 535 per kg and sealed the shops of butchers who violated the official price list, where most of the butcher shops were closed, some of the same butchers sell meat at extra prices in morning and evening in their houses. This trend needs to be stopped by the administration if the government rates have to prevail on the ground.
Even the Kashmir Trade Alliance called it an ‘artificial crisis’, shortage and black marketing of mutton in Srinagar. The government must resolve the issue while taking all the stakeholders on board.
