Kolkata: Mutton prices in Kolkata have remained stubbornly high at Rs 1,100-1,200 per kg across several meat shops for the past few weeks, with retailers saying constant pressure on wholesale prices of goats has left them with little room to reduce the rates.Traders attribute the high prices to demand outstripping supply that emerged a few weeks ago and has shown little sign of easing.Retailers across the city said they increased prices by Rs 100-Rs 200 per kg in the past few weeks as the cost of procuring goats from wholesale markets rose sharply. While many expected rates to ease after the initial surge, wholesale prices have remained elevated, keeping retail rates above the Rs 1,000-per-kg mark that it first crossed during Dol in March.According to traders, supplies began tightening after Eid-uz-Zuha in the last week of May. They attributed the shortage to renewed enforcement of cattle slaughter regulations ahead of the festival, following a govt notification reiterating provisions of the West Bengal Animal Slaughter Control Act and related court orders. The restrictions prompted many buyers to shift to goats for sacrifice, sharply increasing demand. A brief but busy wedding season over the past few weeks further fuelled demand, pushing up wholesale prices.Wholesalers in Narkeldanga, the city’s principal goat market, said supplies have remained inconsistent since the first week of June despite efforts to source animals from Rajasthan and Haryana. Around 1,200-1,400 goats are sold every weekend to meet demand from Kolkata and its suburbs, but traders said arrivals continue to fall short.“We are trying to bring in goats from Haryana and Rajasthan, but even those states are unable to meet the demand,” said wholesaler Iftekhar Alam.The impact is now visible across Kolkata, with retailers revising prices across neighbourhoods.Noor Meat Shop near Bansdroni Bridge is selling mutton at Rs 1,100 per kg. “There has been a shortage of goats in the wholesale market for the past few weeks, forcing us to increase our prices,” said Noor Alam.At A One Meat Shop on Rajdanga Main Road, the retail price has touched Rs 1,200 per kg. “Initially, we thought prices would come down and decided against increasing our rates. But by the middle of June, when the shortage persisted, we had no option but to raise prices,” said owner Mohammad Jahangir.Phoolbagan Meat Supplier, known for the long queues outside its shop during Dol and Durga Puja, has also revised its retail price to Rs 1,100 per kg. “We know it is a little heavy on the pocket, but we are trying to provide the best quality to our customers,” said owner Hafiz Ahmed.Bangalir Pathar Mangshor Dokan at 16 College Street has increased the price of mutton from Rs 900 per kg to Rs 1,000 per kg. “It is inconvenient for our customers, but we are helpless. The wholesale price is very high,” said owner A Mukherjee.Central Meat Shop on BB Ganguly Street has raised the retail price from Rs 950 per kg to Rs 1,150 per kg, while Kohinoor Meat Shop has increased its rate from Rs 850 per kg to Rs 1,000 per kg, reflecting the widespread rise in procurement costs.Kolkata: Mutton prices in Kolkata have remained stubbornly high at Rs 1,100-1,200 per kg across several meat shops for the past few weeks, with retailers saying constant pressure on wholesale prices of goats has left them with little room to reduce the rates.Traders attribute the high prices to demand outstripping supply that emerged a few weeks ago and has shown little sign of easing.Retailers across the city said they increased prices by Rs 100-Rs 200 per kg in the past few weeks as the cost of procuring goats from wholesale markets rose sharply. While many expected rates to ease after the initial surge, wholesale prices have remained elevated, keeping retail rates above the Rs 1,000-per-kg mark that it first crossed during Dol in March.According to traders, supplies began tightening after Eid-uz-Zuha in the last week of May. They attributed the shortage to renewed enforcement of cattle slaughter regulations ahead of the festival, following a govt notification reiterating provisions of the West Bengal Animal Slaughter Control Act and related court orders. The restrictions prompted many buyers to shift to goats for sacrifice, sharply increasing demand. A brief but busy wedding season over the past few weeks further fuelled demand, pushing up wholesale prices.Wholesalers in Narkeldanga, the city’s principal goat market, said supplies have remained inconsistent since the first week of June despite efforts to source animals from Rajasthan and Haryana. Around 1,200-1,400 goats are sold every weekend to meet demand from Kolkata and its suburbs, but traders said arrivals continue to fall short.“We are trying to bring in goats from Haryana and Rajasthan, but even those states are unable to meet the demand,” said wholesaler Iftekhar Alam.The impact is now visible across Kolkata, with retailers revising prices across neighbourhoods.Noor Meat Shop near Bansdroni Bridge is selling mutton at Rs 1,100 per kg. “There has been a shortage of goats in the wholesale market for the past few weeks, forcing us to increase our prices,” said Noor Alam.At A One Meat Shop on Rajdanga Main Road, the retail price has touched Rs 1,200 per kg. “Initially, we thought prices would come down and decided against increasing our rates. But by the middle of June, when the shortage persisted, we had no option but to raise prices,” said owner Mohammad Jahangir.Phoolbagan Meat Supplier, known for the long queues outside its shop during Dol and Durga Puja, has also revised its retail price to Rs 1,100 per kg. “We know it is a little heavy on the pocket, but we are trying to provide the best quality to our customers,” said owner Hafiz Ahmed.Bangalir Pathar Mangshor Dokan at 16 College Street has increased the price of mutton from Rs 900 per kg to Rs 1,000 per kg. “It is inconvenient for our customers, but we are helpless. The wholesale price is very high,” said owner A. Mukherjee.Central Meat Shop on B.B. Ganguly Street has raised the retail price from Rs 950 per kg to Rs 1,150 per kg, while Kohinoor Meat Shop has increased its rate from Rs 850 per kg to Rs 1,000 per kg, reflecting the widespread rise in procurement costs.Customers, meanwhile, are feeling the pinch.“We usually buy mutton every weekend, but at Rs 1,100 a kg it has become very expensive. If prices continue to rise, we might have to reserve mutton for special occasions and shift to chicken on Sundays,” said Sagnik Ghosh, a resident of New Town.
