Though price control mechanism is an issue of concern for any government in any part of the world for the reasons, but keeping in view the topographical position of Kashmir valley the issue becomes matter of high priority for the government of Jammu and Kashmir during chilly months of winter in Kashmir. The time when rains and snow disrupt movement of vehicular traffic on Srinagar-Jammu National highway, the price control authorities have an institutional and administrative responsibility to combat the forces of hoarding and black marketing in Kashmir valley. Unfortunate it is that the authorities of Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution (CAPD) Directorate entrusted the responsibility of implementing the price control mechanism choose to remain confined to their offices when they are expected to be in the markets for controlling the prices of essentials in both urban and rural areas of Kashmir valley. They claim to be the champions of price regulation by deputing the market checking squads to markets in cities and towns the time when heavy snowing results in blockade of Srinagar-Jammu Highway.
A proper price control mechanism to regulate prices of essentials missing these days in Kashmir is the only way to mitigate the sufferings of people during winter in valley where the shortage of essentials due to closure of Srinagar Jammu road for five consecutive days has left hapless populations fuming.
Fact remains that black marketing and hoarding of essentials goes unnoticed during early winter months of November and December. In month of January when the snowfall is expected any road and the possibility of the closure of Srinagar-Jammu highway for days together always remains there such practices need to be curbed with a heavy hand and market checking forces are in great demand. It has been a decades old practice of CAPD officials in Kashmir that they sell rice, flour and Kerosene oil on exorbitant rates just to create artificial scarcity of essentials during winter months. To combat forces of black marketing and hoarding it is imperative for the government to put into place proper price control mechanisms in both Kashmir and Jammu divisions of the state. The bureaucratic top brass of the Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution (CAPD) department has an institutional and administrative compulsion to address this pressing issue of price control right in the earnest. Furth delay on this count will further the causes of black marketing and hoarding the bone chilling cold of winter in mid winter in Kashmir and consequently high pitch noises over the unregulated rise in prices of essentials would bring the government into disrepute as usual during the chilly months of winter. A proper price control mechanism to regulate prices of essentials missing these days in Kashmir is the only way to mitigate the sufferings of people during winter in valley where the shortage of essentials due to closure of Srinagar Jammu road for five consecutive days has left hapless populations fuming.
