“It is quite strange that rate-lists for fruits and vegetables are fixed from time to time but do not get implemented on ground, leaving the consumers at the receiving end,” he said.
The consumers complained of “open loot” on markets alleging that the shopkeepers have been given free hand by the government for overpricing.
The FCSCA department had recently released a notified price list of chicken and mutton but these prices are being openly violated in the market.
While the department had fixed prices of broiler chicken at Rs 152 per kilogram, poultry shops across the Valley sell chicken between Rs 160-Rs 175.
Similarly, the price of mutton was fixed at Rs 490 per kilogram. Ironically, the mutton shops are selling mutton for almost between Rs 600 to Rs 630.
While the general public puts the blame on the FCSCA department for its failure to regulate the rate list in the market, the traders and shopkeepers said the eatables are sold at exorbitant rates by the suppliers and the wholesalers.
