Hustle and bustle in markets ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr

Shoppers complain of increase in prices

Shoppers complain of increase in prices

Srinagar, Jun 13 (KNS): Ahead of Eid-ul- Fitr, Markets on Wednesday witnessed a heavy rush of shoppers with people laying their hands on everything that came in their way.
Shoppers complained of increase in prices of essential commodities. However the Minster of Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs Minister, claimed that checking squads conducted market inspections to curb inflating rates of commodities.
According to KNS city correspondent on Wednesday different markets across the valley were flooded with shoppers. The busy markets of Residency Road, MA Road, and other small and big markets in Srinagar witnessed a huge rush of customers. In most of the markets, people were seen busy buying bakery, confectionary, dress material, kids wear and grocery. But the soaring prices of commodities left many customers high and dry.
Many shoppers, who spoke to KNS¸complained that price of vegetables, fruits, and other items have been ‘arbitrarily increased’ manifold by traders in view of Eid.“The Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs department is doing nothing to curb this problem. The claims of having constituted market checking squads seem to have fallen flat because the traders have increased prices of commodities arbitrarily,” said Shabir Ahmad, a customer at Lal Chowk.
The rush of people triggered frequent traffic jams at various places especially across the Dalgate-Batmaloo stretch where most of the people happily emptied their pockets to buy their favorite items. Imparting a colorful touch to the shopping frenzy, children accompanied by their parents were seen engrossed in choosing their favorite toys, colorful dresses and footwear.
Meanwhile, the shoppers rush is giving a tough time to the men in blue in maintaining the traffic and ensuring smooth flow vehicles along the Exchange and Residency roads here. Pertinently vendors have occupied footpaths along the Amira Kadal and Residency road leaving virtually no space for the pedestrians and too many vehicles passing through too little times means the bridge remains choked throughout the day.
When contacted Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs Minister, Muhammad Ashraf Mir, told KNS that government have deputed many checking squad to Srinagar markets and other markets in the valley. “I urge the people that if they find any trader or shopkeeper selling commodities at higher prices, they should contact us. We will take action against them,” he said and added that it is very sad that we hardly receive any complaints when authorities conduct market checks. That time nobody complains about soaring prices,” he claimed. (KNS)
 

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