Srinagar, Dec 15: The soaring prices of vegetables have left people across Kashmir in distress with dried vegetables also being sold at exorbitant rates.
Local residents’ from various parts of Srinagar, Ganderbal, Bandipora, Pampore, Pulwama and other districts of Valley complained that the prices of vegetables that include onions, tomatoes, potatoes, brinjal have skyrocketed. Similarly, fruit like pomegranates apples and bananas have also become significantly more expensive, adding to the woes of people in the valley.
“Buying vegetables have become almost unaffordable for the people of Kashmir, especially the poor lot,” said Abdur Rahim Rather, a retired government employee. He said vendors at Hari Singh High Street (HSHS) are selling vegetables on much higher rates than expected.
“We used to witness this trend when snow would block the Srinagar-Jammu highway. But vendors are selling vegetables at high rates and there is no proper check,” said Shameema, a house wife.
The dried vegetables are also being sold on higher rates than expected. Vendors argue that rates are high from the suppliers. “Inflation is reason. We get all items on high rates from the suppliers and are keeping very less profit,” said a vegetable seller at Batamaloo area of Srinagar. Batamaloo is considered the cheapest vegetable market in Srinagar but people complain rates are high here as well.
In districts, people complained that the rates of vegetables have gone very high and for poor people they have become unaffordable. In Ganderbal, a vendor Ghulam Qadir, who is into vegetable business for the past 20 years, said that he tries to sell vegetables at a reasonable rate. “Suppliers are sending us vegetables both dry and fresh on much higher rates. The frustration among the people is genuine,” he said.
Many people urged the authorities to keep a check on vendors who sell vegetables on exorbitant rates. “Market checks should be conducted on regular basis so that people don’t suffer,” they said.
