Need to control overpricing of essentials

The half of the markets remain open across Kashmir on a rotational basis amid the resurgence in the deadly COVID-19 cases across Jammu and Kashmir, especially in Srinagar, the summer capital of the Union Territory. However, the prices of essentials have yet again pushed the consumers to the wall as the people are being looted openly while the stringent action is still missing on the ground. The overpricing of essentials especially in the holy month of Ramadan is leaving the consumers to lurch at large. Nonetheless, the government has been claiming to have taken measures on the ground and is taking the norm violators to the task. One fails to understand why there is no sigh of relief among the consumers in the markets at a time when the government is claiming an action on the ground. The people are being openly looted as the essentials are being sold at exorbitant rates. People have been alleging that the essentials especially the fruits are being sold at exorbitant rates and allege that the authorities concerned are acting as mute spectator with taking no action in this regard. The government especially the concerned department should act swiftly in this regard and ensure that the overpricing of essentials especially the fruits will not take place any further and the people here could heave a sigh of relief. The stringent action in this must be initiated at earliest so that the people will not be looted ahead of the holy festival, EID.