Bilk kiln owners violate rates announced by govt
Pulwama: In a total disregard to government fixed rates, bricks across south Kashmir are being sold at highly exorbitant prices.
A cross-section of people from various parts of the south Kashmir complained of overcharging by the brick kiln owners.
“The kiln owners have unilaterally hiked the brick prices much to the trouble of the common people,” they said.
Abdul Rashid, a resident of Pulwama said that the bricks are being sold at exorbitant rates with administration in deep slumber despite hue and cry by the common man.
He said that bricks are being sold in between 28,000 to 31,000 Rupees while asthe government had fixed the price at Rs 21,000.
Sajad Ahmad Dar, another resident from south Kashmir’s Kulgam said that this year the rates are not coming down despite bulk availability of bricks at the kilns.
Dozens of people said that they have been delaying the construction of their houses and other structures for the last several months with the hope that the prices of bricks will come down but it hasn’t happened as of now.
“I got bricks for Rs 31,000 which is Rs 10,000 more than what the government rate is,” said Jahangir Ahmad, a resident of Shopian.
He said that he contacted several officers in this regard who assured that they will look into the matter but nothing was done on ground.
Similar complaints are pouring that minerals are also being sold at exorbitant rates across south Kashmir and there is no intervention from the government side.
They requested higher ups to look into the matter at an earliest and take action against the owners selling bricks and other minerals at an earliest so that they can heave a sigh of relief.
District Magistrate Pulwama, Dr Baseer Ul Haq Choudhary when contacted assured that he will look into the matter.
Jahangeer Ganaie
