Six trucks of sheep seized, imported illegally into the valley
Srinagar: Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Shailendra Kumar convened a meeting here with the mutton dealers and later fixed Mutton price at Rs 310 per kg.
Divisional commissioner Kashmir said that government had fixed rate of mutton at Rs 285 per kg for wholesalers and Rs 310 per kg (without offal) for retailers. In case of any complaint of price hike public can contact his office of the telephone numbers 2455357, 2452643.
He asked Kothdars and butchers to sell the meat at the rate of Rs 310/kg and warned them that anyone found selling on higher rates would face music under law of land. Only those Kothdars who had been issued legitimate licenses can fetch sheep from outside the State themselves or legal action would be initiated against those violating the norms, he said.
Meanwhile to stop and check the illegal supply of sheep authorities Friday seized six trucks loaded of sheep at Lower Munda illegally being imported into the vally.Later Government official said that it was distributed among the mutton retailers for sale.
CAPD, Sheep and Animal Husbandry in Fix
At the time when state government is struggling to stop illegal supply of sheep and fix rates for mutton in Kashmir, the Consumer affairs and Public Distribution (CAPD) and Sheep Animal Husbandry department have failed to check illegal supply of sheep from Delhi, Amritsar and Rajasthan through unauthorized dealers.
The mutton dealers Friday revealed that despite SRO 1973 which was framed for the criteria of license so that only registered License holders can fetch sheep from outside the state the unauthorized dealers with the help of officials of CAPD, Sheep and Animal Husbandry import huge quantity of sheep into the valley illegally.
Sense of anger is brewing among the registered Mutton dealers against the said Departments for its failure to check the issue. To pass their vehicles in Lower Monda and Lakhnapor CAPD, Sheep and Animal Husbandry are helping these unauthorized dealers as they are bribed with huge sums of money .The nexus between officials and black marketers and has rendered the common customer too helpless to raise their voice, Registered mutton dealer wished not to be named said.
Blaming the accused departments for all the mess he said, these department are aware of everything but they are keeping mum for their interests. . Not only are the officials of the departments but some big fishes also involved.
Mutton dealers further blamed that a huge quantity of mutton is being brought to Kashmir illegally by people who are not actually the license holders. There is huge illegal supply of mutton from Delhi and Amritsar and these illegal license holders are supplying stock to the valley, another registered mutton dealer said.
He further that the government failed to check the illegal supply of mutton. We are a limited number of people having licenses to import the sheep. If unlicensed people who offer higher rates at the outside Mandis and pass the burden on the common consumers dont get into this field, we can see to it that commission agents are cut to their size and not allowed to exploit us, he added.
Meanwhile sources said that large number of illegal mutton dealers in the state is giving the Delhi based dealers an opportunity to make a hike in the mutton rates which ultimately hits the state. When mutton dealers are being offered meat at higher rates, they refuse to buy it from the Delhi based dealers. But when state based retailers are buying it at higher rates and then ultimately raise the cost of the mutton in the state. There are large numbers of commission agents in Delhi and Amritsar who are directly continuing trade with the valley based mutton retailers. Due to the large number of customers, the Delhi based dealers fix their own rate on the sheep, sources said. Despite repeated attempts CAPD, Sheep Animal Husbandry Minsters could not contact for comments.KNS
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