Consumers Face Cooking Gas Shortages and Soaring Prices Amid World Consumer Rights Day
Summary
Nepal faces an artificial shortage of cooking gas and soaring prices of edible oil and rice amid World Consumer Rights Day, with middlemen and market manipulation blamed for the crisis while government response is criticized.
Key Points
- Consumers in Nepal are struggling with an artificial shortage of cooking gas despite sufficient supply claims by Nepal Oil Corporation.
- Prices of edible oil have risen sharply due to international market disruptions and local black market activities.
- Consumer rights activists accuse gas industrialists and middlemen of manipulating supply to panic consumers into buying more cylinders.
- The government is criticized for inadequate action to control black marketing and price hikes, with warnings of legal action by the Department of Commerce.
- Nepal Food Corporation is selling edible oil at lower prices than the private sector, indicating price manipulation by private traders.
