CHITWAN, Oct 4: Traders in the district have arbitrarily raised price of essential commodities ahead of the Dashain festival. In the name of adjusting prices, they have raised the prices of food commodities like rice, beaten rice, ghee, sugar, oil, lentils and beans, among others by about 40 percent.
According to Narayanghat Grocers´ Association, the decision to raise prices was taken after a discussion with traders and businessmen.
The price of vegetable ghee has seen the highest price rise. Traders have jacked up the prices of the popular ghee variety from Rs 75 per kg to Rs 105 per kg. Similarly, the price of mustard oil has increased to Rs 110 per liter from Rs 96 liter.
Price of popular rice varieties has also increased significantly. Mansuli, Jeera Masino and Sona Mansuli rice varieties have become dearer by Rs 10, Rs 12 and Rs 10 per kg respectively. The price of beaten rice, the consumption of which rises during the Dashain festival, has increased by Rs 10 per kg.
The price of different lentil varieties has increased by an average of Rs 10 per kg, while the price of wheat flour has jumped by Rs 7 per kg.
"The revised price rate of essential commodities will be displayed in all the shops in the city after it is approved by the District Administration Office," informed Madhubilas Adhikari, the president of Narayanghat Grocer´s Association.
The shopkeepers, however, have already raised the prices before the proposed rate is endorsed by the district administration office.
"We are forced to raise the price of food commodities as the fuel prices and house rent, among others, have increased significantly," said Jagadish Yadav, the vice president of the association.
Earlier, the traders have raised the price of food commodities in mid-July.
Locals, however, have flayed the shopkeepers for jacking up prices ahead of the Dashain festival. The unilateral price hike is unjustifiable because there is uncertainty in the market because of the delay in issuing full-fledged budget, they added.
"I have reduced the quantity of commodities because everything in the market is expensive," said Kaushalya Thapaliya, who was busy in her Dashain shopping.
Officials at Chitwan District Administration Office, however, informed that they had intensified market monitoring to prevent black-marketing. "We will hold discussions with traders to adjust the prices during major festivities," Rajendra Ghimire, the assistant chief district officer of Chitwan, told Republica.
Civil society leaders, political parties and their sister organizations have also requested traders not to raise price of essential commodities during the Dashain festival.
http://www.myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=23998
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