On International Consumer day, Kashmiris face shortage of essentials

Srinagar, Mar 15 (UNI) As people across the globe are celebrating ''International Consumer Day'', those in Kashmir valley continue to face acute shortage of essentials due to closure of Srinagar- Jammu national highway.

People have now once again resorted to vegetables and fish dried for winter months during summers.

Most of the shops, selling meat, vegetables, eggs, chicken and other eatables in the valley, including Srinagar city, are closed as truck loaded with essentials are stranded at Jammu for the past five days.

Majority of essential commodities are being imported from different parts of the country.

The local vegetables are also being sold at higher rates with no check by the authorities.

Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad was yesterday informed by the Divisional Administration that there is enough stock of rice, LPG cylinders, Atta, sugar. However, he was not informed about the shortage of vegetables, milk, eggs, chickens and other essentials.

People expressed surprise why the administration ignored to inform Mr Azad about the closure of butcher shops in the valley for the past 15 days. There is absolutely no protection for consumers, the people alleged.

With no alternative left, people have resorted to vegetables and fish dried in summer by some shopkeepers.

In the past, people generally used to dry vegetables and fish during the summer as the highway remains closed for months during winters.

However, things changed with fresh vegetable, being imported from Jammu and other northern states, available in the market throughout the year.

People had almost stopped consuming dried vegetables.

As of now prices of dried tomato, fish, Brinjal, Gourd and turnip have also increased due to non-availability of fresh vegetables.

Prices of all essential commodities have escalated manifold while some of the items such as meat, chicken and eggs went out of stock a day after the highway, the only road linking the valley with the rest of the country, was closed on March 11.

UNI