Addressing a meeting attended by high ranking government officials, business people and consumer rights activists on Monday in the capital Bhattarai also urged private sector to cooperate with the government to maintain smooth supply of essential commodities during the coming festivals.[break]
“It is necessary to come up with short term and long term work plan to ensure effective monitoring and positive intervention from the government to ensure fair market practices. The government will be compelled to take action against those involved in the black marketeering to discourage such ill practices in the market,” Bhattarai said.
He also sought cooperation from traders for unhindered supplies of essential commodities in the market during both normal times and festive seasons. “We can´t control cartelling, syndicate and artificial price hike in the market and transport sectors without the support of business people. So, we want sincere cooperation from the private sector that is the key player in the market not the government,” said Bhattarai, who is also looking after the portfolio of Ministry of Commerce and Supplies (MoCS).
On the occasion, chief secretary Lila Mani Poudyal instructed the MoCS officials to conduct daily market monitoring and make necessary arrangement to provide sugar at Rs 76 per kg in the market. Due to hoarding by producers and major dealers ahead of different festivals, the price of sugar has gone up to as much as Rs 98 per kg in recent days.
On the occasion, Shashi Kant Agrawal, president of Nepal Sugar Mills Association, said around 100,000 quintals of sugar has been stocked by private sector. He also made commitment to provide sugar at Rs 76 per kg with immediate effect.
Similarly, secretaries from implementing ministries has pledged to do needful to ensure fair market practices for the relief of general public during the festival season.
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