'Unnatural price rise in the market due to anarchy of traders'

BY A STAFF REPORTER Kathmandu, May 5: Stakeholders said that consumers, traders and market monitoring bodies should fulfill their duties and responsibilities effectively to make the market clean and effective.

They made this remark while speaking at an interaction on 'Rising Prices and Market Monitoring During the Election' organised in Kathmandu Wednesday.

Consumer Rights Activist and president of the National Consumer Forum Prem Lal Maharjan said that the prices of goods have been soaring in the market over the months owing to the anarchism of businessmen and traders.

"Despite market monitoring and action being taken against some traders, they have upset the market by hiking prices without following the directives of the concerned government bodies on the basis of political access," he said while speaking at an interaction on 'Rising Price and Market Monitoring During the Election'.

He said that prices of not only the consumer goods but also construction materials have gone up unnaturally over the months.

"The prices of consumer goods have increased by at least 30 per cent and some items have doubled," he said.

Stating that there is still shortage of cooking gas in the market despite the Nepal Oil Corporation claiming that it has increased its supply, he urged the market monitoring bodies to expedite market monitoring activities and take action against those who cheat consumers.

He said that the anarchy of traders in the market had to be controlled without delay and the government should pay special attention to price regulation.

On the occasion, Director General of Department of Commerce Supplies and Consumers Protection Lila Prasad Sharma said that the Department in coordination with district administration offices has been intensifying market monitoring to control artificial price hikes of goods and services.

"We have paid special attention to prevent unnatural price rise and storage of goods in the market. We have taken extreme action against the industrialists and firms who are increasing prices of goods unnaturally, creating shortages," he said.

He, however, said that the price of goods and services have been increasing in the market due to external factors.

"Increasing prices of fuel in the international market is resulting in increased fuel price in Nepal and also contributing to increased cost of production of imported and locally produced goods in the recent times, leading to rise in prices of goods in the country," he said.

However, he said that the Department would be vigilant to control the artificial price hike by creating artificial shortages from suppliers.

Chief District Officer of Kathmandu Govinda Prasad Rijal said that the consumers should also be aware of the price and quality of goods and services to control artificial price hikes by making the market effective.

"It is not possible to control the price of a commodity by deploying one or two teams to monitor the market. To make the market effective, consumers, traders, market monitoring bodies and consumers should be accountable and responsible for their rights and duties," he said.

Rijal also expressed his commitment to continue market monitoring with the coordination of the Department of Commerce Supplies and Consumers Protection and other concerned authorities to ensure the supply of goods and services with reasonable prices for consumers.

We are aware of the tendency of businessmen to increase prices to make unreasonable profit during the election,” said Ghanshyam Upadhyaya, Chief District Officer of Lalitpur.

Stating that the priority now is to hold free and fair elections, he said that the market monitoring would be continued by mobilising the available human resources.

He said that the scope of the Department of Commerce, Supplies and Consumers Protection should be expanded across the country to intensify market monitoring.

The District Administration Offices would support the Department to ensure the rights of consumers to get quality goods at reasonable prices, he said.