Traders not selling vegetables as per rate-list

Traders not selling vegetables as per rate-list
Bisma Bhat
Srinagar, Nov 16: Disregarding the rate list issued by the government, the traders are selling vegetables at exorbitant rates.
Department of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs (FCSCA) has issued a rate list for vegetables and fruits.
As per the rate list, prices of potato has been fixed at Rs 18 per kilogram (white) and Rs 22 per kilogram (red), onions at Rs 22 per kg while tomatoes are to be sold for Rs 26 per kg and carrot for Rs 30 per kg.
Price of saag has been fixed at Rs 40 per kg while lotus root produced from Dal Lake has been fixed at Rs 175 per bunch.
However, vegetable sellers continue to overcharge consumers.
A consumer, Abdul Rashid, purchasing lotus roots (nadru) at Hari Singh High Street here, was disappointed by the rates of vegetables.
“They are selling nadru for Rs 250 per bunch which is costlier than the government rate,” he said.
He said the government should enforce the rate-list.
Another consumer, Shameena bought potatoes and tomatoes for Rs 40 per kg each at Maharaja Bazar market.
“I believe vegetable sellers are following the pattern of auto-rickshaws, who also do not follow any rate-list,” she said.
Deputy Director Supplies FCSCA, Shanawaz Bukhari, said the erring traders would be fined.
“We have issued the rate-list and kept an enforcement cell for monitoring the rates in the market,” he said.
“It is not possible for our men to keep an eye on every vendor; it is responsibility of the general public as well. They must lodge complaints on our helpline number,” he said.