KATHMANDU, Feb 24: In response to the ‘surprise’ rise in the domestic price of essential commodities at a time when international prices have gone down noticeably in recent months, the government has announced it is intervening in the market through fair price outlets. [break]
The Ministry of Commerce and Supplies (MoCS) has decided to distribute rice, suji, anta, cooking oil, ghee and pulses at fair prices through the network of the Nepal Food Corporation (NFC) and the Salt Trading Corporation (STC) – both government undertakings.
In Kathamandu Valley, 15 NFC dealers and two STC outlets will be geared up to distribute the essential commodities more effectively.
Taking to the press, Purushottam Ojha, secretary at MoCS, said the government has set the price of Sona munsuli rice and Japanese rice (received as assistance) at Rs 28 and Rs 40 per kg respectively for sale through the NFC’s zonal office at Thapathali, the Nakhaku godown and dealers, co-operatives and fair price outlets.
NFC has 15,000 tons of rice in stock in addition to 7,000 tons provided by Japan. Ojha also informed that NFC was preparing to procure an additional 23,000 tons of rice soon to increase its food stocks. NFC has already procured 110,000 tons for this year.
As per the government arrangement, sugar will be distributed through STC dealers at Rs 46.25 per kg. Likewise the government has set the price of maida and anta at Rs 25 and Rs 22 per kg respectively. Suji has been priced at Rs 28 per kg for distribution through the fair price outlets.
Traders are selling Sona masuli rice and sugar for Rs 45 per kg and Rs 49 per kg respectively. Maida and anta are selling at Rs 30 and Rs 25 per kg.
According to Nepal Rastra Bank, the central bank, the price of sugar has shot up by 36 percent while ghee and cooking oil have become dearer by 26 percent compared to last year. Likewise, the prices of rice and pulses have jumped by 22 percent and 26 percent respectively.
“We are very serious about rising price of essential commodities the market price disproportionate to the international prices,” Ojha said.
“We will resort to stringent action against those found involved in black marketeering and creating artificial shortage of essential commodities in the market exercising Essential Commodities Control Act, and Consumers Protection Act.”
Ojha also said market monitoring mechanism would be made more efficient and effective through Department of Commerce in the Kathmandu Valley while chief district officers would be made more active in other districts.
“We have initiated the process of restructuring Department of Commerce with adequate human power and resources to strengthen market monitoring system in the long run,” added Ojha.
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