Though control over prices of essential is an issue of concern for all the State and UT Governments in the country, but keeping in view the topographical position of Kashmir valley the control over prices of essential is hard pressed matter for the Jammu and Kashmir Government during chilly months of winter in Kashmir. The time when rains and snow disrupt movement of vehicular traffic on Srinagar-Jammu National Highway, control over prices of essentials through stringent price control measures is the only way to curbs the practices hoarding and illegal 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 measures 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 both the Srinagar-Jammu Highway and as well as the roads connecting Srinagar with other major townships of Kashmir valley. Fact remains that black marketing and hoarding of essentials go unnoticed during early winter months of November and December when such practices need to be curbed with a heavy hand and market checking forces have to show their presence in the markers. It has been a decades old practice of officials of Food Supplies & Consumer Affairs (FCS&CA) department in Kashmir that they sell rice, flour and Kerosene oil on exorbitant rates just to create artificial scarcity of essentials during winter months.
The actions to control the prices of essential should begin now as part of the Government winter preparedness initiatives and any delay on this count will further the causes of black marketing hoarding, and illegal profiteering during chilly winter months in Kashmir Valley and consequently high pitch noises over the unregulated rise in prices of essentials will as usual; bring Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs (FCS&CA) department under sharp criticism from all quarters during the chilly months of winter.
To defeat forces of black marketing , hoarding and illegal profiteering it is imperative for the government to put into place stringent price control measures in both urban and rural parts of Kashmir valley. The top brass of the Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs (FCS&CA) department in Kashmir has a situational and administrative compulsion to address the pressing issue of the control over process of essential right in the earnest. The actions to control the prices of essential should begin now as part of the Government winter preparedness initiatives and any delay on this count will further the causes of black marketing hoarding, and illegal profiteering during chilly winter months in Kashmir Valley and consequently high pitch noises over the unregulated rise in prices of essentials will as usual; bring Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs (FCS&CA) department under sharp criticism from all quarters during the chilly months of winter. The sooner the government puts into place suitable price control measures to regulate the prices of essentials in both the Kashmir Valley and Jammu divisions and implements the same with full force, the better it is for the consumer protection and delivery of essential services at the doorsteps of the people Kashmir valley.
