A snapshot survey carried out by Republica in the markets of the Valley caught traders charging up to Rs 10 per kg more for rice and beaten rice and up to Rs 25 for different varieties of lentils and legumes.
Amrit Bhujel of Tahachal is a regular customer at Kalimati Fruit and Vegetable Market as he feels that prices are comparatively lower at this wholesale market. However, he was shocked on Wednesday when he had to pay Rs 25 more for a kg of red lentils and Rs 20 per kg more for gram. Bhujel paid Rs 145 for a kg of red lentils and Rs 100 for a kg of gram.Like Bhujel, many others shopping at Kalimati commented on the increased price of food commodities. According to them, retailers have increased prices up to Rs 10 per kg for beaten rice and up to Rs 25 per kg for legume varieties.
"It seems that the traders are taking advantage of the situation resulting from the earthquake," Pemu Lama, who is origionally from Ramechhap, told Republica, adding, "It's a matter of shame that they have turned into such rank opportunists."
Despite the instances of black marketeeing in food commodities, the retailers claim that they are not the ones raising the prices. "Retailers have not increased the price of food commodities on their own," said Pabitra Man Bajracharya, chairman of Nepal Retailers' Association (NRA), adding that the retailers were compelled to raise prices as the big wholesalers hiked their prices. According to Bajracharya, wholesalers and traders raised the prices of food commodities following the earthquake.
"There has not been any import of food commodities for the last one month. Wholesalers and traders are selling their stocks after increasing the price," he added.
However, Devendra Bhatta, chairman of Food Wholesaler Entrepreneurs Association, rejects the charge. "We were importing food commodities at higher rates even before the earthquake," Bhatta said. According to him, food commodities have become dearer in the domestic market following price rises in the international market.
Government officials, as always, say that they will immediately respond to complaints and take action against anyone found overcharging customers.
"In coordination with the Department of Customs (DoC), we have been keeping records of the amount of food commodities being imported and their prices," Hari Narayan Belbase, director of the Department of Commerce and Supply Management (DoCSM) said, adding, "Consumers should immediately come to us if they feel they are being overcharged."
Consumers, however, say that the government should not wait for complaints from the public to take action against wrong-doers, and should intensify its monitoring activities. NRA Chairman Bajracharya for his part added,"Government monitoring is never seen among the big trading houses and wholesalers who are the main cause of price hikes. Inspections have a bias against retailers like us."
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