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Rice, lentils turn dearer as Dashain fever grips Nepal

File image: A fair price shop

Kathmandu, September 13

As the greatest festival of Nepalis is just days away, daily commodities including rice grains and lentils have become more expensive in the market.

The price of various types of rice grains has been increased by Rs 100 per sack (20-30 kg). Likewise, red lentils have become dearer by Rs 10 per kilogram.

“We were forced to hike the price as wholesalers also changed the rate,” Ram Krishna Manandhar, Vice-President of Nepal Retailers Association, says.

He informs that recent floods in Terai and the change in price of rice grains in India also contributed to the hike.

He claims the price of rice will increase further as the floods destroyed paddy plantation, and the production will significantly go down.

Meanwhile, the Department of Supply Management and Protection of Consumer Interests, the government authority to regulate and monitor market, says it has not been officially informed about the change in market rates.

The Department’s Director and Spokesperson Laxman Shrestha says, “It is natural that the price of commodities change. But, the traders need to justify it.”

Consumer rights activists have said the traders needed not increase the price now.

“The price has been hiked instead of providing subsidies to the customers in the run-up to festivals,” Madhav Timilsina, an activist says, “The hike should be withdrawn.”

 

 

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