With the opening of the National Highway, Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affair department introduced new rate list for the essential commodities on March 31 and imposed in the market on April 2.

The Zojila pass was officially opened on March 28 and a total of 12 mini trucks laden with vegetables and fruits arrived at Leh thus bringing relief to the people of Ladakh.

 

Compared to the last year, the national highway reopened prior to one month and with the availability of all kind of vegetables, fruits and meats in the market the issue of price list is also bothering the public. The price fixation committee introduced the new rate list after two years. The new rate saw a hike of minimum ₹2  to maximum ₹10.

 

The rate list witnessed the whopping prices hiked in the vegetable and the fruits for the current year, vegetable and fruits like Capsicum, Ladyfinger, Ginger, Garlic no 1, Lemon, Orange, Cherry, Watermelon, Mango Dussehri, Mango Safeda, Grapes Black, Grapes Green and Egg are increased by ₹10 as compared to the last year rate .The prices of Cabbage, Tomato, Potato Red, Onion Red, Brinjal, Turnip, Fresh Beans, Loki, Musk Melon, Cauliflower increased by ₹ 5, other including Palak increased by ₹ 7, Carrot increased by ₹ 3 and Banana increased by ₹ 2.

However, the rate of Potato White, Green Pea, KaramSaag  Mundi, Cucumber, Garlic no 2, Radish, Knolkhol, Pumpkin, Pomegranate remains unchanged.

Due to delay in fixation of the price the vegetable sellers alleged that they are bearing a loss and the customers are confused with the rate list.

Bashir Ahmed, President Kashmiri Vegetables and Fruits seller of Leh said, “This time we had to bear a loss of almost ₹ 2 Lakh as the rate list was not fixed on time. If fixed prior to the opening of the road, we would have bought the items accordingly.”

Talking about the new rate list he said, “We are satisfied with the new rate list fixed by the authorities.”

Mohammad Tariq, Vegetable seller said, “Due to the late introduction of new rate list, we have to bear heavy losses by selling the goods on the old price list.  I have bought 40 boxes of mango which cost ₹ 200 per kg and here we have to sell it at the rate of ₹ 80 per kg in the initial days.”

The bargaining habit of the customer is yet again an issue faced by the seller despite selling the items as per rate list displayed in the shops.

Narrating an incident Mohammad Tariq, Vegetable seller said, “A lady came to my shop to buy a tray of eggs which cost ₹140 per tray as per last year price list. Saying it is against the law, she refused to pay and damaged the box containing eggs. I was helpless and had to give her the tray for ₹130. So we have to face such situations mainly in the evening hours.”

The resident here also face end no of problems, when asked about the real issues in the place, Tsering Motup, Customer, said, “ The price of the commodities are charged differently in various shops. We rush to the shop when vegetables arrive and do not hesitate to pay the amount quoted by the sellers. People need to inculcate the habit of checking the rate list before buying anything from the shop.”

When questioned about late fixation of rate list Ruth Mary, Assistant Director, FCSCA Department, Leh said, “We have to check the freight and other charges incurred while getting the commodities to Leh. In Srinagar, the rate of commodities in Mandi changes every now and then. Thus, the rate list is made after the goods are arrived and then negotiate with the sellers. The rate list is fixed for the whole one season with no further alteration and changes afterwards”.

She further added that the new rate list is introduced looking at the benefit of both consumer and seller with not much of high fluctuation in the prices. 

She stressed the importance of displaying the rate list at every shop and appealed people to check the list before buying the food items. 

The rules and regulation are applicable to all local and non-local vegetable sellers in the market but it has been observed that the locals are not following the rate list fixed by the concerned authority.

Talking about the rate list not being implemented and followed by the local sellers, Ruth Mary said, “Though the rate list issued implies both on local as well as non-local sellers but we are lenient towards the local seller as we have a short growing and earning season so they charge accordingly.”

Another problem that the vegetable sellers are facing is the trucks and mini trucks moving around in different places selling the items at a low price than the market due to which the registered sellers are not able to get their rightful share of investment.

 

Commenting on the issue, Bashir Ahmed said, “These mobile vendors are causing a major problem for us on whom the authorities need to keep an eye. They come and sell the vegetables at very low cost with no quality check and assurance. Our reputation is on a stake as they do not have the license and create havoc in the market”.

“We bear huge loss when individual sellers come and sell vegetable at low prices. They do not have to bear any sort of expenses like the shop rent, house rent and the bills”, he added.

When asked about whether the mobile sellers are restricted in the city, Ruth Mary said, “When such sellers come and sell at a lower rate, people will definitely benefit from it but on the other hand if we restrict, the public does not cooperate and yell at us. The item sold if prove fatal for health, it is not possible to trace them because they keep moving from place to place so there is no quality assurance.”

Tsering Mutup, Customer said, “The fruits and vegetables sold in the vehicle are sold at less price as compared to the shops but the food items are mostly overripe.” 

The climate change has made a huge contribution in the region for growing different vegetables and the locals should try different items that are grown in the other places. So that the people here will be less dependent on the imported perishable goods and the prices for the same should be nominal.

There is a huge difference in the rate list of Kargil and Leh. Even though the distance is just 250 km but it quite surprising that the rate of eggs here is ₹150 per tray whereas in Kargil it is ₹100 per tray. The rate difference is there in the other items too. Transportation can be the reason for the difference in price but still, the prices are unbeatable. The question is why there is so much difference in the prices when both the place is closely located. 

When asked about the huge difference in the rate list within the twin district Ruth Mary said, “The quality of vegetable and fruits that are sold in Leh are of good quality as compared to Kargil. We have cross checked the quality with the Assistant Director, Kargil, in which we found out that there is a difference in the quality of Pomegranate, the quality of the same is sold better here than Kargil.” 

There are still many issues in the lives of a customer and sellers. There are about 45 Kashmiri registered vegetable sellers in the entire Leh and their real issues are the late fixation of rate list and the mobile vendors. While on the other hand, the customers are complaining about the high price.