Srinagar, Nov 08: With the onset of the winter season which comprises a 40-day long chila- e -kalan the prices of traditional fire ports (Kangri) have started to soar to an unexpected level with people aghast over the administration’s inaction.
Kangri is the valley’s most vital and vintage traditional heating gadget used by people and is also widely cherished by visitors throughout the cold season.
Talking to news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) the aggrieved consumers from parts of the valley while expressing their resentment said that the prices have gone unexpectedly up at a time when people are finding it hard to come out of the losses caused due to the consecutive lockdowns in wake of the pandemic.
Ghulam Mohammad, a resident of Baramulla, said that they were dismayed to know that the prices of Kangris have gone up this winter and people are returning empty-handed given the market situation.
Known as the premier destination of Kangri making, the prices in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district have also shown steep hikes while the people associated with the business said that they are being charged huge amounts for raw material used in making them (Kangri’s).
Hilal Ahmad Ganaie from the Kuloosa area of Bandiproa said that they sold each piece at Rs 170 last year while this season the rates have been hiked given the extra changes of the raw material in the market.
“We are charging Rs 200 to the Kangri that were sold at Rs 170 last year. It’s only because of the hiked cost of the raw material used in its making,” he said, “Material like earthen port, dried sticks and other costs are huge now compared to what it used to be in previous years, as a result, the prices have gone up”.
“Same has happened with the earthen ports as well. They are brought from Kumar’s and they have also hiked the prices,” Ganaie said.
Tral area also known as the hub of the Kangri making in south Kashmir is also witnessing the price hike this winter season leaving people in complete dismay.
Ali Mohammad, one of the residents, said that this season people may buy less Kangris from markets given the rise in the prices.
Irshad Ahmad, one of the residents of border district Kupwara said that the people mostly use Kangris during the winter season since the area witnesses huge snowfall and closure of roads.
“Kangri requires very little expenditure to act as a perfect heating gadget to beat the cold,” he said. “But It seems that this winter, people will prefer to stay away from Kangris as the prices have gone up unexpectedly.”
People have demanded that the rates of Kangris must be fixed for the common masses to beat the cold—(KNO)
