Kangra Deputy Commissioner Hemraj Bairwa has fixed the retail prices of essential commodities in Kangra district under the Himachal Pradesh Hoarding and Profiteering Eradication Order, 1977. The new price limits, issued yesterday evening, prevent traders and dhaba owners from overcharging beyond the district administration’s fixed rates.
According to the order, meal prices in hotels and dhabas have been standardised. A full meal of dal, vegetables, and rice/chapati is capped at Rs 80, dal fry at Rs 60 per plate, peas-paneer at Rs 80, spinach-paneer at Rs 90, chicken curry at Rs 80 and meat at Rs 120 per plate. Tawa chapati is priced at Rs 5, tandoori chapati at Rs 7 and stuffed parantha at Rs 20.
For meat and fish sellers, goat meat is set at Rs 500 per kg, chicken broiler (dressed) at Rs 200 per kg, fresh fish at Rs 200 per kg, and fried fish at Rs 280 per kg. Raw milk is fixed at Rs 55 per litre while boiled milk costs Rs 57 per litre.
The Deputy Commissioner has mandated grocery shopkeepers, hotel, and dhaba owners to display the rate list in Hindi outside their establishments. Non-compliance will invite strict action.
However, dhaba owners have criticized the decision, arguing that fluctuating vegetable prices and high commercial LPG costs (Rs1,900 per cylinder) make it difficult to operate at the fixed rates. Speaking anonymously to The Tribune, they demanded consultation before implementing such orders.