Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, Oct 16:Prices of essential commodities and rates of the construction workers have sky rocketed post floods in Kashmir with Government as silent spectator and turning a blind eye to the complaints.
After Government airlifted thousands of outside State construction workers during last month’s floods they are in short supply now. The construction workers in Kashmir are forcing flood victims to pay hefty sums of money for cleaning their houses and repairs of their houses.
Muneer Ahmad of Jawahar Nagar said that he had to pay Rs 700 to labourers for cleaning his house. “Normally the rate is Rs 350 but they don’t agree on any amount below Rs 700. We have no option but to pay hefty amounts. Government is nowhere. At least they can regulate rates of these construction workers and labourers if they have no money to rehabilitate us”, he said.
Ahmad said that they informed the police that was standing next to DAV School Jawahar Nagar where they were negotiating with labourers. “Where is the administration. Are they sleeping?” he asked
The Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Rohit Kansal, when asked about the overcharging by labourers and construction workers, said: “I will talk to Labour Department and they will look into it.”
Abdul Majid of Rajbagh, a leading businessman of Kashmir, is cleaning his house on his own with the help of his domestic help and two workers. “I was looking for labourers but they are not available so I am taking help of domestic help and other workers to clean my house. What is the option, if we won’t clean it now, the house will suffer more damage”, he said.
“I need some immediate repairs to my house. The mason and carpenter are demanding at least Rs 1000 per day when the rate is around Rs 500. Administration is nowhere to regulate the rates”, he said.
Mohammad Morifat said that he had to pay Rs 400 for washing his car when the rate is only Rs 150. “There is complete failure on part of Government to regulate the rates. We are forced to pay huge amounts. If Government won’t act then what is their role”, he said.
Nasir Ahmad of Rainawari said that prices of essentials have doubled post floods. The onions are being sold at Rs 50 per kilogramme when they were sold at Rs 25 before floods. “Similarly spinach is being sold at Rs 60, Tomatoes at Rs 60 per kilogramme, cauliflower at Rs 30, Potatoes at Rs 40, when the rates before floods were at Rs 15, Rs 20, Rs 15, Rs 15 respectively”, he added.
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