Mutton supply in Kashmir, hit by subsequent deadlocks, may hit the markets again within two to three days as wholesale dealers start purchase and import of the livestock after authorities conceded to their demands.
Mehrajuddin Ganaie, General Secretary, Wholesale Kothdar Association, told The Kashmir Walla that dealers working with their association have started purchase of livestock to ensure an uninterrupted supply of mutton in the Valley despite “exorbitant rates levied upon them in livestock markets outside of the Kashmir Valley.”
Mutton Dealers Association had called an emergency meeting on Saturday and asked all the dealers to purchase livestock wherever available and ensure supply of mutton in the valley as soon as possible “even if they have to go through loss.”
“There are certain dealers who have been purchasing the mutton at high rates from the markets based outside Kashmir that ends up with cancellation of our orders,” said Ganaie and added, “we will not allow black marketing in Kashmir to take people for a ride.”
During the meeting, they had asked their dealers to ensure appropriate supply even if they have to purchase it directly from livestock owners or at high rates.
More than forty trucks of livestock have reached Kashmir in the past few days. “We have heard that they have been purchased by retail dealers and sell at high prices from their respective homes and shops,” Ganaie claimed and asked authorities to take action against the people indulging in failing the rates set.
As a part of their “service towards society”, they said that they were ready to walk an extra mile and bear the possible loss due to the purchase of sheep by ‘black marketers’ at high rates.
He appeals to people not to purchase the mutton at the rate other than set by the government, “as it will discourage those dealers selling mutton at high prices and will help in streamlining the rates across the markets.”
A four-month-long deadlock over rates of mutton ended on Wednesday after authorities revised the rates set in November last year. The government’s new rates for the mutton in Kashmir have been set as Rs 490 with 100 gram of offal and Rs 435 without offal.
