Market Monitoring Amidst National Calamity and Festival Season
Summary
Floods and landslides in Rasuwagadhi have disrupted the supply chain, triggering allegations of black marketing, artificial shortages, and steep price hikes for rice, edible oil, and cooking gas in Kathmandu Valley. Consumer activists say the government’s market monitoring has been weak, while traders blame big importers and wholesalers for the shortages.
Key Points
- The flood and landslide damage in Rasuwagadhi and the blocked Nagdhunga-Muglin road have severely disrupted supply and intensified market problems in Kathmandu Valley.
- Consumer activists allege black marketing, artificial shortages, and sharp price increases in essential goods such as rice, edible oil, lentils, pulses, and LP gas ahead of Dashain, Tihar, and Chhath.
- Bishnu Prasad Timilsina says the government has failed to exercise strong market control, despite claims that enough stock exists for several months.
- Nepal Retail Trade Association president Pavitra Bajracharya says big importers and wholesale traders, not retailers, are driving the price increases.
