Rehan Qayoom Mir
Srinagar, Mar 14: With the holy month of Ramadhan nearing its end and Eid al-Fitr just days away, mutton prices in several Kashmir markets have reportedly surged to nearly rupees 800 per kilogram, triggering widespread anger among consumers who accuse authorities of failing to regulate the market.
Residents from various parts of Srinagar and other districts said that the steep hike has placed an additional burden on households already grappling with rising living costs during the holy month.
“Every year, the same story repeats. As Ramadhan approaches its final days and Eid draws closer, mutton prices shoot up overnight, and there is no one from the government on the ground to check the rates,” said a resident from Srinagar’s Bemina area. “For a middle-class family, paying Rs 800 per kilo is simply unaffordable.”
Another consumer questioned the absence of enforcement teams in markets. “If the government has fixed rates or rules, why are they not being implemented? People are being forced to buy at whatever price is demanded,” he said.
Many shoppers accused authorities of ignoring the issue despite repeated public complaints. “Officials move around in vehicles and make statements, but when it comes to regulating essential food items, they are nowhere to be seen,” a group of residents from downtown Srinagar said.
When contacted, Mehraj ud Din, General Secretary of the Mutton Dealers Association Kashmir, said that authorities have not taken any concrete steps to address the situation.
“The government is not doing anything at all. They are sleeping over the issue,” he said, adding that officials appear more active on social media rather than resolving problems affecting traders and consumers.
He said the issue of livestock transportation from Punjab has also been flagged multiple times by traders, but nothing has been done so far despite the passing of over three months.
“Trucks carrying livestock still face harassment and delays at checkpoints such as Shambhu and Madhopur, while the government has not been able to resolve the issue yet,” he said.
Several other mutton dealers said that the absence of a proper regulatory framework has also contributed to the problem.
They said that after the administration scrapped the earlier Jammu and Kashmir Mutton (Licensing and Control) Order, 1973, which allowed authorities to regulate the trade and enforce price notifications, the market has largely been left to operate without effective oversight.
“If the government really wants to control prices, they should bring a proper law or pass a bill once the elected Assembly is in place and create a clear regulatory system for the trade,” a dealer said.
Another trader said the government cannot simply blame dealers when there is no clear mechanism in place. “When the previous regulatory order was removed, the government stepped back from price control. Now the market runs on supply and demand,” he said.
Sources in the mutton dealers’ association revealed that this is the first time in many years that no meeting was held between authorities and traders ahead of Ramadan and Eid.
“In earlier years, meetings used to be conducted at district levels to review supply and prices. Even officials at the block level, including BDOs, would coordinate with traders. But this year, no such meeting was held. It seems the government is either asleep or deliberately ignoring the issue,” a dealer said.
Minister for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Satish Sharma did not respond to repeated calls from this correspondent.
