Mubashir Alam Wani
Srinagar, Jul 30: At a time when Kashmir is witnessing its annual surge in wedding celebrations, the valley is facing a major disruption in the supply of mutton, a staple of traditional Kashmiri feasts.
The halt in availability has sparked concern across households and catering circles, especially with the ongoing wedding season.
Mehraj-u-din Ganie, General Secretary of the Wholesale Mutton Dealers Association Kashmir, confirmed that the supply chain has come to a standstill due to unresolved issues. “We have not received any formal communication or support. The deadlock continues,” he said.
Ganie said that though not officially declared as a strike, the halt stems from unresolved concerns over procurement rates, undue taxes, inter-state transportation hurdles, and a lack of regulatory clarity, issues the dealers say they have raised for months now.
“The government says the matter lies with Punjab. But the impact is being felt here, in Kashmir,” Mehraj added.
Meanwhile, the disruption has put immense pressure on those preparing for weddings in the coming weeks. In Kashmiri culture, mutton is not just another food item; it is the foundation of Wazwan, the elaborate multi-course non-veg feast that defines local weddings.
“Without mutton, what is a wedding here. Families are panicking because chefs and Wazas won’t start unless meat is available in bulk,” said a Srinagar-based event planner.
Caterers and Wazas across the Valley have also expressed concern over cancellations and delays, while families are heading to either postpone events or consider scaled-down menus.
According to the dealers, despite verbal assurances from certain ministers and officials, no written order or actionable solution has been put forward.
Ganaie said that attempts to speak with relevant officials were met with vague responses, with some shifting the responsibility to the Punjab government, the main supplier state for livestock coming into J&K.
“The government claims it is working on it, but we have not seen any results. If they have formed any committee to look into these issues, they must follow through with clear decisions,” he said.
