Srinagar, Jan 5: Eggs are back on plates but not on budget.

Prices swung wildly after the “egg scare”, but deregulation now shields sellers, not buyers.

Over the past month, since egg-scare caught Kashmir following the ‘Eggoz’ brand egg controversy, prices have undergone a roller coaster of change.

Back on Kashmiri plates, eggs have become at least 20 percent costlier in just a month, and there is no way consumers can complain about it, thanks to the deregulation of commodity prices in 2023.

All poultry eggs, irrespective of variety and quantity, used to cost at least 30 percent cheaper just a month ago.

When an egg brand ‘Eggoz’ hit the headlines for alleged contaminations and health concerns, consumers in Kashmir went into a frenzy.

Egg trays were returned to local stores, while many discarded their egg trays in panic.

Prices dropped drastically, a tray selling for Rs 100 in some areas.

However, soon after, when it was reiterated by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) that eggs continue to remain safe, consumers turned to their eggs again as a source of affordable protein in their diets.

Soon, the cost of eggs surged dramatically.

Individual eggs are selling for Rs 8 to Rs 11 per piece.

There has been a 25 to 40 percent increase in some areas.

Kashmir consumers expect the government to intervene and control the prices of eggs.

Joint Controller, Legal Metrology, Kashmir, Tanveer Ahmad, when asked why the prices of eggs cannot be regulated by the administration, said that as per an SO issued in 2023, prices of essential commodities like meat, meat products, fish, fish products, milk, milk products, poultry, and eggs have been decontrolled.

“There is a clear-cut order that no authority will fix the price of any essential commodity. Therefore, the prices of eggs are not under our control,” he said.

He was referring to SO 300 issued by the J&K government on June 1, 2023.

Currently, a box of eggs with seven egg trays costs anywhere between Rs 1500 and Rs 1700.

An egg tray, with 30 eggs, the regular farm white egg variety, can cost Rs 200 to Rs 280.

The organic eggs cost Rs 200 to Rs 300 per dozen.

The egg prices also vary by the area in which they are sold.

Eggs cost cheaper in old parts of the city, in market hubs like Maharaj Bazaar, Safa Kadal, and Batamaloo, compared to Rawalpora, Nishat, and other areas.

In villages, prices vary by distance from town, customarily increasing as the distance increases. In Jammu, an egg tray costs anywhere between Rs 190 and Rs 250.

Over the past week, egg prices have seen a downward trend in Jammu, while the Kashmir division is recording a spike.

A consumer, Danish Ahmad, told Greater Kashmir that he buys eggs in bulk for the family, as his parents have been advised a high-protein diet, while he himself is also a gym trainer.

“Compared to last year, I have to pay Rs 200 extra per box now. Why is no one checking the market?” he said.

Many critics point to a lack of market regulation in winters in Kashmir, as well as disruption in the supply of eggs due to highway impediments.

Why Govt can’t fix egg, meat, poultry prices

In June 2023, the J&K government issued a notification (S O 300, dated June 1, 2023) that revoked the J&K Mutton (Licensing and Control) Order, 1973, that had been issued vide SRO-646 dated December 19, 1973.

This order was prompted by a clarification from the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution (Government of India). The clarification declared that the foundational notification S O 145(E) dated February 15, 1990, which gave price regulation powers to J&K, was no longer valid.

It directed all relevant authorities, including the Directorates of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs J&K to refrain from issuing or enforcing any price notifications or controls on livestock products.

This effectively deregulated prices for key livestock essentials such as mutton, poultry, and eggs.

Without the legal authority, there is no framework to fix maximum retail prices or penalise overcharging.

It is impossible for the government or consumer protection bodies to cap escalating costs. The prices are determined solely by market forces of supply, demand, transportation costs, seasonal factors, and trader discretion.

Baramulla, Jan 5: The revival of water transportation from Baramulla to Srinagar—once an age-old and vital mode of transport—could emerge as a major boost for tourism and sustainable mobility in North Kashmir.

Doongas and shikaras once formed a thriving river transport network along the Jhelum, connecting villages, markets, and towns.  As traffic congestion, pollution, and road accidents increasingly plague the Valley, the idea of reviving river transportation on the Jehlum is gaining renewed relevance.  Muhammad Shaban, an octogenarian from Baramulla town, recalled one such journey from Baramulla to Srinagar undertaken decades ago.  He said he was part of a group of people who travelled by shikara to the Makhdoom Sahib shrine in Srinagar, long back.

“It was a remarkable journey. Women recited Durood-e-Sharief while men manually ferried the shikara upstream towards Srinagar,” Shaban said. “The journey would take a few days, but the excitement and energy levels among the group members were very high,” he added.

Introducing river transport between Baramulla and Srinagar is believed to be a game-changing initiative, blending heritage revival with sustainable tourism. “If introduced, electric or solar-powered boats could minimise carbon emissions, reduce fuel consumption, and protect the fragile Himalayan ecosystem,” said Muhammad Ashraf, a local resident.

“At the same time, such an initiative would require cleaning and dredging parts of the Jhelum, which would improve overall river health,” he added. According to several elderly residents of Baramulla town, the River Jhelum was once the lifeline of Kashmir.  They said the river carried not just water, but people, goods, culture, and memories. “As traffic congestion, pollution, and road accidents continue to affect Valley roads, reviving river transportation on the Jhelum has become more relevant than ever,” said Bilal Ahmad, another local resident.

“Such a project would not only reconnect Kashmiris with their past but also offer tourists a slow, scenic, and immersive travel experience through orchards, wetlands, old settlements, and historic riverbanks,” he added. In Baramulla town, remnants of this past glory can still be seen in parts of Urdu Bazaar, where old structures once used for storing goods arriving from across the border still stand.

These structures serve as reminders of how vibrant river transportation once was. “These structures remind us of how active and lively river transport used to be. We wish it will be restored one day so that we can reconnect with our past memories,” said Khurshid Ahmad, a town resident.

From a tourism perspective, reviving water transport between Baramulla and Srinagar could open up a new niche. Heritage cruises, eco-friendly ferries, and cultural boat journeys featuring local cuisine, handicrafts, and folklore could significantly enhance the tourist footprint beyond Gulmarg and Srinagar.

Srinagar, Jan 05: Chairperson, J&K Waqf Board, Dr. Syed Darakhshan Andrabi today visited Aasar-e-Shareef Kabamarg, Anantnag and paid obeisance at the famous shine. Dr. Andrabi participated in a very significant inauguration event. She was accompanied by the Waqf Board officers and engineers in presence of the local people.

Dr Andrabi inaugurated the newly constructed Administrative Block and the Ornamental Aluminum Composite Panel (OACP) Dome of the Ziyarat. She also inaugurated the upgradation works for the Grand Masjid there.

Speaking on the occasion, Waqf Chairperson Dr Syed Darakhshan Andrabi said that we are committed to our resolve of continuous development of this shrine and all the shrines under the Board throughout Jammu & Kashmir. Dr Andrabi later paid obeisance at the shrine of Syed Ahmad Kirmani (RA) at Movera, Pahalgam and prayed for the welfare and peace of all.

Sharing her views, Andrabi said that dedicated service along with the clear vision results in the required outcome. “The innovative and sustainable technologies are being used in our projects. We ensure the quality infrastructural development, being completed through a strict calendar for our works in both the divisions of J&K. Transparency and accountability guides our infra initiatives”, said Dr. Andrabi.

Dr. Andrabi said that during the past three years, Waqf Board face lifted the shrine and upgraded the facilities for the people by construction of sanitary facilities, pathways, Masjid upgradation, food distribution beats and other allied works.

Executive Magistrate of the Board Ishtiyaq Mohiuddin accompanied the Waqf Chairperson during the tour.