Budgam, June 3: In absence of market inspections, the shopkeepers and vendors here are overcharging the customers freely during the holy month of Ramazan, which witnesses heavy rush of shoppers.
The customers in Budgam township are charged more than the fixed rate on edibles as authorities here have failed to set up market inspection teams to monitor the prices, locals alleged.
Shabir Ahmad, a customer said that broiler is being sold at Rs 130 per kg against the fixed rate of Rs 110. Similarly, shopkeepers charge eggs @ Rs 60 for per dozen while as Rs 40 are charged for one kg of tomato.
Moreover, fruit and vegetable vendors are also fleecing customers here. “Bananas are sold at Rs 80-90 per dozen and beans at Rs 80-100 per kg,” said a consumer Tariq Ahmad.
The price of other edible items including mutton, suji, dates, coconut too is more than the rates fixed by the government.
While criticizing the district administration for being negligent towards Budgam market, locals told ‘Kashmir Images’ that authorities have not even conducted a single market inspection during these days of Ramazan.
“Administration is more interested in photo ops. Officials sometimes come to market and seize few packets of polythene, and then issue press releases,” they added.
Despite repeated attempts, Additional Deputy Commissioner Budgam, Mohammad Farooq Dar, could not be contacted for comments.
