Prices of essentials in Kashmir shoot up

Srinagar, Nov 8 : Prices of essentials, including vegetables, meat, chicken and eggs have gone up in the Kashmir valley where people are also facing acute shortage of water and electricity.

Against the government approved rates, the prices of almost every item has increased, though the officials of Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution (CA&PD) are conducting raids here and there to show their presence after imposing fine on some shopkeepers.

Cauliflower, which was being sold at Rs 10 per kg before the darbar move offices, including seat of the government civil secretariat, were closed in summer capital on October 31, now costs Rs 30 per kg.

Shimla mirch costs Rs 60 while peas Rs 70 per kg against Rs 20 each recently.

Similarly the prices of other vegetables has also gone up, making the lives of common lower and middle class families almost impossible.

A ten kg flour from a Jammu company, which was being sold at Rs 155 two weeks ago, now costs Rs 185 to Rs 200.

Despite fixing rates by the CA&PD, eggs, chicken and meat was also being sold on higher prices.

A dozen eggs costs Rs 40 against the government approved rate of Rs 36.

Cost of chicken per kg shot up to Rs 95 to Rs 100 depending upon the area against approved rate of Rs 72.

More than 30,000 chickens, being imported from different northern states, particularly Punjab, are being consumed daily by the people in the Kashmir valley.

--UNI

(c) 2009 Published with permission from United News of India.
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