No Wazwan In Kashmir? Why The Famous Cuisine Is Facing A Mutton Crisis This Wedding Season

Kashmir is facing an immense crisis in their prestigious cuisine - Wazwan in weddings and parties celebrations as there is a disruption in the supply of mutton across the valley.

It has been pointed out by the mutton traders that the situation is caused due to the illegal levying of transit charges by the trucks carrying livestock from Punjab. Now, the situation has moved onto the political platform, where the Jammu and Kashmir's Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has written to Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann for an immediate resolution.

Why Is There a Shortage of Mutton in Kashmir?

The traders have informed that the trucks carrying livestock from Rajasthan, Haryana, and Gujarat to Jammu and Kashmir are being intercepted by contractors on the highways of Punjab.

As per them, transporters are being compelled to pay between ₹20,000 to ₹25,000 per truck as transit charges even though they have all the legal permits and taxes.

The dealer claimed that traders have been paying around 4% of tax in purchasing animals in source states. They believe the extra charge makes the transportation of livestock to Kashmir very costly.

Consequently, it is reported that many traders have discontinued transporting livestock to the valley in the last week.

Omar Abdullah Appeals to Punjab Government for Help

The disruption in supply has caused the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to seek intervention of the Punjab government.

In his letter to his Punjab counterpart, Bhagwant Mann, Abdullah sought the Punjab government to make sure that the transportation of livestock is done smoothly and no illegal fees should be charged from the transporters.

He mentioned that the All Kashmir Wholesale Mutton Dealers Union raised a complaint against the transporters who had valid documents of their livestock but were stopped and asked to pay illegal charges.

Wedding Season Worst Hit

It has become more difficult due to the disruption being timed as such, since Kashmir is going through its busiest period for weddings.

Wazwan, the traditional meal in Kashmir which comprises various dishes made from mutton, forms a significant part of any wedding ceremony.
According to dealers, Kashmir brings in livestock worth ₹12-14 crore per day during its busiest period for weddings.

In light of disrupted imports, people fear a shortage of mutton at the weddings.

Traders Threaten Strike

According to mutton traders, there has not been any improvement even after the Chief Minister bringing up this matter with Punjab a week back.

As per dealer Hilal Ahmad, contractors are still asking for the supposed transit charges from Kashmir-bound trucks.
Traders will have no option other than to go for a strike if the current situation persists, as moving livestock is becoming financially non-viable for them.

Why Kashmir Depends on Other States

Jammu & Kashmir provides merely 30,000 tonnes of mutton each year, whereas the total consumption of the UT stands at around 60,000 tonnes.
Thus, almost half of Kashmir's requirements of mutton are met with imports from Rajasthan, Haryana and Gujarat.

Now that there has been a major disruption in their supplies, the disparity between demand and supply of mutton has become quite evident.