Consumers in remote districts hit hard by skyrocketing inflation

Published On: October 26, 2022 07:05 PM NPT By: Republica | @RepublicaNepal

KARNALI, Oct 26: The rising market inflation has hit the consumers in the mountain districts of Karnali Province. The prices of essential commodities of daily use have skyrocketed after the roads in the district were disrupted by floods and landslides triggered by incessant rains during the first week of this month.

Traffic on the Karnali Highway resumed on Tuesday, 20 days after being disrupted. Although the highway has been opened for traffic, not all vehicles can travel easily due to the poor and risky condition of the road at several places. As a result, the supply of essential consumer goods has still not become smooth.

The traders have retained the price of commodities which they had arbitrarily increased citing the disruption of the highway. The consumers have been hit hard by the exorbitant price hike.

Wheat flour which cost Rs 70 per kilogram before the disruption of the highway now costs Rs 160 per kilogram and it is in short supply.

"The market price of essential commodities has shot up beyond the reach of the ordinary consumers. The price of cooking gas has reached Rs 3,000 per cylinder while that of cooking oil has hit Rs 160 per liter," rued Samjhana Mahat of Chandannath Municipality-7, Jumla. She said on top of the high inflation, there is a shortage of commodities in the market.

According to her, the prices of essentials have increased almost three-folds. The price of marigold flower garland which was Rs 50 per unit before has now reached Rs 150 per unit. Mutton price which was Rs 1000 per kilo has reached Rs 1,300 per kilo and one cannot get chicken in the market.

Jay Shankar Dhital, a consumer, accused the traders of creating an artificial shortage in the market to increase the price under the pretext of highway disruption.

Similarly, the local transport operators have increased the transport fare by 20 to 25 percent citing shortage of fuel. The price of vegetables has also shot up two-folds.

The consumers in Humla, Dolpa, Mugu, Jumla and Kalikot districts of Karnali Province have been adversely affected by the high inflation.

(RSS)