Just a few days after the Srinagar-Jammu highway was closed for vehicular movement due to fresh snowfall, the black marketing and skyrocketing prices of essentials in Srinagar and elsewhere have pushed the people to the wall and left the poor section of the society to lurch at large. One fails to understand why the markets go unchecked always in the Valley, especially at a time of bad weather conditions. It is always observed that the rates of essentials usually go up whenever the highway, the only road connecting the Valley with the rest of the States, remains closed for vehicular movement. The tall claims about better facilities to the people have never been fulfilled as due to the official apathy, the sellers in the markets don’t adhere to the government fixed rates, thus leaving people to suffer. The concerned departments always make statements with regard to the claiming stringent measures taken against the involved black marketers and others. However, the ground situation is quite contrary as there has been no adherence to the government rates in the markets. The shoppers are being forced to pay exorbitant rates on essential commodities. The concerned departments should depute teams at shortest possible time to ensure that the black marketing is put to an end and those involved in charging exorbitant rates on essential commodities, especially on vegetables and fruits are taken to the task so that the common people could heave a sigh of relief.
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