The issue of price rise has once again attracted huge public concern due to closure of Srinagar-Jammu highway just for about three days. So unfortunately once more it is proved beyond doubt that the time when rains and snow disrupt movement of vehicular traffic on Srinagar-Jammu Highway, the price control measures are not immediately enforced to combat the forces of hoarding and black marketing in Kashmir valley. Unfortunate it is that the authorities of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs (FCS &CA) Department entrusted the responsibility of keeping prices of essential commodities in control choose to remain confined to their offices the time when they are supposed to visit the markets for controlling the prices of essentials in both urban and rural areas of Kashmir valley. Though authorities of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs (FCS &CA) Department depute market checking squads to markets for the regulation of prices of essential commodities in cities and towns immediately after shutting down of Srinagar-Jammu Highway but it is also an irrefutable fact that they stop visiting markets immediately after partial restoration of the transportation of essential commodities on Jammu-Srinagar highway. Unfortunately black marketing and hoarding of essentials goes unnoticed when such practices need to be curbed with a heavy hand.
Quick response of the FCS& CA (Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs) department Kashmir to the rising prices of essentials even in post “Chilla-i-Kaln” periods is by all standards of understandabilities the only way to combat increasing hoarding and black marketing of essential commodities in post “Chilla-i-Kaln” periods in Kashmir valley as otherwise it is no use to send flying squads to markets after the restoration of the transportation of essential commodities on Jammu-Srinagar highway.
To combat forces of black marketing and hoarding it is imperative for the Food Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs (FCS&CA) department to put into place proper price control measures in Kashmir valley well in time in view of it’s vulnerability to shortage of essential even in the post Chilla-i-Kalan periods in the months of February and March. Though unprecedented delays caused in the implementation of price control measures does not go unnoticed during chilly winter months in Kashmir but FCS & CA (Food Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs) Department wakes up too late to mitigate the sufferings of the victims of hoarding and black marketing in the post Chilla-i-Kalan periods in the months of February and March in landlocked Kashmir valley. Quick response of the FCS& CA (Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs) department Kashmir to the rising prices of essentials even in post “Chilla-i-Kaln” periods is by all standards of understandabilities the only way to combat increasing hoarding and black marketing of essential commodities in post “Chilla-i-Kaln” periods in Kashmir valley as otherwise it is no use to send flying squads to markets after the restoration of the transportation of essential commodities on Jammu-Srinagar highway.
