Govt approved rates on paper only: Vegetables, fruits sold on whim

In disregard to government issued rate list, many vegetable and fruit dealers here are selling goods at exorbitant prices.
The CAPD rate list fixes price of a kg of cauliflower at Rs 16, cabbage Rs 16, carrot Rs 20, turnip Rs 15, spinach Rs 25 per and Kashmiri Saag Rs 25.
A market survey by this reporter revealed that the vegetables are being sold almost everywhere in the city at exorbitant prices in total disregard to the government issued rate list.
In Soura vegetable market, the cauliflower was sold today at Rs 25 a kg which is Rs 9 more than the CAPD rate list. Similarly, spinach was given at Rs 40 which is Rs 15 more than the government fixed rate.
Consumers in different localities of Srinagar alleged that the authorities had given free hand to the unscrupulous traders to loot the consumers.
“We have no option than to buy the vegetables at exorbitant rates. What can we do as the vendors refuse to sell them at CAPD approved rates,” Abdul Hamid, a Soura resident said.
At Lal Chowk, vendors were charging Rs 30 more on every kg of carrot. At Ellahi Bagh, the situation was similar. At biggest vegetable market of Srinagar at Batmaloo people from different parts of the Valley buy vegetables. This reporter saw the vegetables were being slowed at exorbitantly higher rates.
“Even Kashmiri Saag produced locally is being sold at Rs 50 a Kg which is double the price fixed by CAPD,” Arsalan Malik a Srinagar resident said.
“It is irony that authorities are taking no action against the profiteers,” Malik said adding that strict action should be initiated against the violators.
The fruit dealers also violate the CAPD rate list. As per CAPD rate list the oranges are to be sold at Rs 46 to Rs 62 a dozen depending on the quality. On the ground, the oranges were being sold at Rs 60 to Rs 120 a dozen.
Apples in the CAPD rate list are priced between Rs 30 to Rs 40 per Kg. The rates are not been adhered to by the sellers.
Consumers said the CAPD should constitute special market checking teams so that the traders selling goods at exorbitant rates are taken to task.
Director, Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution department, Abdul Rashid War said the CAPD is conducting market checks and in the last few days a number of vendors and vegetables dealers found selling commodities at higher rates were fined.
“But I would urge people to come forward and inform us about the violations so that strict action is taken against the violators,” War said, adding that they need people’s cooperation in taming the black-marketing and hoarding.