KL Report
SRINAGAR
Acting tough against the mutton wholesalers for selling meat at high rates, authorities on Thursday seized seven trucks loaded with sheep near Qazigund in south Kashmir’s Islamabad district.
Director Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution (CAPD) Mushtaq Ahmad Mir told a local news agency, KNS that a joint team of police and department’s enforcement wing seized the trucks laden with sheep. “They (wholesalers) aren’t implementing the rates fixed by the government. We will sell the seized mutton @ Rs 298 to consumers which the rate fixed by the department recently,” he added.
The Director claimed that they have notified the rate for mutton on scientific basis.
“If they (wholesalers) don’t fall in line we will arrest those who violate it. Problem is with wholesalers and not with the retailers,” he added.
There are nearly 200 mutton wholesale dealers in the valley. The retailers say they are unable to adhere to the government rate as wholesalers are supplying them mutton at exorbitant rates.
The retailers presently sell mutton at Rs 320 to 340 per Kg.
However, an official of CAPD department told KNS that the mutton retailers and wholesale dealers are hand in glove with each other and are responsible for the increase in the prices of mutton. “They use strikes as pressure tactic to further hike the prices. We won’t allow them to dictate their terms and will continue with our action,” he added.
