Concerned ministers give contradictory statements
SRINAGAR: Notwithstanding tall claims by the Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution (CAPD) department about checking unregistered mutton dealers, sixty percent of sheep from Delhi, Amritsar and Rajasthan are imported to Kashmir illegally.
Dealers say prices of mutton have gone up over the last four years in Kashmir due to these illegal meat sellers. They say that there are only 210 registered dealers who provide meat according to government rates.
“We fail to understand why government issues license when it cannot stop illegal marketing of mutton. CAPD department has failed to check illegal supply, now it is high time for the government to give control of checking the supply to the police,” Firdous Ahmad, a registered mutton dealer, told a local news agency, KNS.
Kashmir has everyday consumption of around 5500 animals (sheep and goats) which is estimated to be around 70000 kgs. Meat prices have gone up by 200 percent over the last five years in Kashmir – from Rs 125 in 2008 to Rs 340/kg in 2013.
Who’s Responsible?
Local residents are seething with anger.
“What is the purpose of issuing rates when the authorities are not able to control the mutton retailers? Butchers are openly selling meat at Rs 340 in market while CA&PD is acting as mute spectator,” said Ajaz Ahmad, a resident of Rajbagh in Srinagar.
Ministers have shifted blame on each other.
Minister for CAPD, Chowdary Mohammad Ramzan said only the Animal Husbandry department was responsible to comment on the issue.
Animal Husbandry Minister, Nazir Gurezi told the agency that their job was only to look after quality of the mutton.
“If there is anything illegal, it is the CAPD and Finance Department who are responsible as CAPD Department is issuing the license to the dealers and the Finance Department looks after toll tax department,” he said.
