Srinagar, March 2: As the holy month of Ramadhan commenced Sunday, residents of various parts of Kashmir raised concerns over the exorbitant prices of fruit, vegetables and other essential items being sold by the shopkeepers and street vendors.
Locals from Srinagar and Ganderbal parts alleged that sellers, particularly fruit vendors and shopkeepers have significantly hiked prices, making essential items unaffordable for many in the holy month of fasting. Locals told Rising Kashmir that the prices of fruit such as oranges, grapes, pineapples, pomegranates, and bananas—commonly consumed during Ramadan—have seen a sharp increase. Similarly, vegetables like potatoes, brinjal, peas, capsicum (shimla mirch) and tomatoes have also become more expensive. They complained that the vegetable and fruit sellers who use their load carriers for selling items have raised the prices making it difficult for the poor lot to buy vegetables and fruit in the sacred month.
People from Srinagar parts expressed frustration over what they termed as the “unjustified inflation”, stating that the price hike is unjustified and is putting additional financial strain on families during a time of spiritual reflection and community bonding. “Ramadhan is a time when we should be able to focus on our faith and family, but these skyrocketing prices are making it difficult to manage our daily needs,” said Ghulam Nabi, local resident of Srinagar.
Similarly, Nazir Ahmed, another resident of Ganderbal district of Central Kashmir, said that vegetables and fruit are almost unaffordable for a common man. “We urge the authorities especially the Food and Safety Department to form squads and continue regular checks in the month of Ramadhan. Who allows the vendors to raise prices and why there is no check at all,” he said.
The locals urged the Food Safety Department and revenue officials to conduct regular inspections in local markets and mandis to ensure that shopkeepers adhere to the fair pricing practices. “The authorities should monitor the markets and check the rate lists of the shopkeepers. This exploitation during Ramadhan is unacceptable,” they said. With the commencement of Ramadhan, Kashmir markets are bustling with shoppers and shopkeepers have allegedly taken this opportunity to inflate the prices of essential commodities, causing distress among consumers. Residents remain hopeful that swift action will be taken to address the issue and ensure that essential commodities are available at reasonable prices throughout the holy month.
