SRINAGAR: People from different parts of Srinagar said that groceries are overpriced by the vendors taking advantage of the shutdown, and the authorities are not acting against them.
The price of many grocery items has gone up, and the market checking squad is unable to check this malpractice, said the consumers.
The price of tomato has gone up from Rs 20 to 70 , collard is sold at Rs 70, lotus sold at Rs 300, ginger at Rs 125 , onion price has jumped from Rs 60 to Rs 70, capsicum sold at Rs 60, potato at Rs 50, spinch at Rs 50, cabbage at Rs 40 and beans at Rs 60.
“We have to pay extra money for groceries and the authority are not taking action against the shopkeepers. We are already suffering from last two months and these shopkeepers make us suffer more,” said Tariq Ahmad, a resident of Batmaloo.
He added that not a single official is inspecting the market and the shopkeepers are resorting to black marketing.
“The shopkeepers are looting us as they are charging extra money for the product which is open, while others do not provide packed items and compel us to pay extra money,” said Shaheen Akhthar, a resident of Rainwari.
She said that the packet of salt is sold at rupees 500, which she used to buy for 400 rupees and turmeric costs Rs 400 per kg, which they used to sell for only 350 rupees before shutdown.
Mohammad Rasool, a vegetable seller at Batamaloo, said, “We usually buy fruits from the Parimpora mandi or from Dal Lake. But vegetable merchants have increased the rates. We are forced to sell the vegetable at high prices to recover our costs. What can we do? We too have to earn.”

NAZIMA SIDIQ