Wholesale mutton dealers trading illegally claims Dir FCS&CA Kashmir

January 5, 2023

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The Directorate of Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs has claimed that the wholesale mutton dealers are trading illegally as none of them has a license.

Director of Food Civil Supplies and Consumers (FCS&CA) Department Kashmir Abdul Salim Mir said, “Since 2014, not a single wholesale mutton dealer has renewed their license, which has prompted the department to take action”.

Adding that he said, “With no license, the meat that is brought by the dealers is illegal. The department has given them multiple chances to renew or to get a new license, but, they don’t bother”.

Mir said, “We gave the notification in the newspaper as many as three times, and asked those wholesale dealers to come forward and renew their licenses. After that we gave them mercy a chance, but, it seems they are living different world”.

Asked about the solution, Mir said, “The wholesale dealers need to come forward and get their license renewed at the earliest, until then our action will continue. We sealed 49 mutton shops this week and as many as 24 were last week”.

Adding that he said, “There is a proper process for renewal of license; wholesale mutton dealers have to pay money as per the rule”. Asked about the meat rate, Mir said the government has fixed the rate of Rs 535 per kg and it is final. Anyone, who is found violating the rules, will face action.

On December 31, the Enforcement squad of Food Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs (FCS&CA) conducted a market checking drive in various areas of Srinagar City.

During market checking 141 business establishments were inspected & a penal sum of Rs.23000 was collected as a fine from 16 erring shopkeepers for violation of the Essential Commodities Act, of 1955. Besides, 24 mutton shops were also sealed.

Whereas, on Tuesday, as many as 49 mutton shops were sealed in Srinagar for selling meat at exorbitant rates. It is pertinent to mention here that last year; there was a four long-month disagreement between the administration and mutton dealers. Later in March, the administration fixed the retail price of mutton at Rs.535 per kg.