Consumer Rights Advocate Criticizes Price Hikes and Artificial Shortages Amidst Festivals

Kathmandu. The great festivals of Dashain, Tihar, and Chhath have arrived at our doorstep. However, the common consumer's kitchen is suffocating under the burden of inflation. Using the recent floods and natural disasters as an excuse, the prices of daily necessities like rice, cooking oil, sugar, onions, and even meat have been excessively increased in the market. Not only this, but a severe shortage of cooking gas has been created in urban areas including the capital Kathmandu, forcing consumers to wait in line for hours. Some consumers have been wandering for a week with empty cylinders. Is this shortage and inflation real? Or is there a collusion between businessmen and the state? Why have the government and its mechanisms, which are supposed to regulate the market, become so helpless? This is a detailed conversation with consumer rights advocate Bishnu Prasad Timilsina in Ratopati's weekly program 'Economic Edit' on these contemporary issues. Edited excerpt:

Currently, there is a severe shortage of cooking gas in the market. On the other hand, due to the disruption of roads caused by floods and landslides, there has been a significant price increase in items like lentils, rice, and sugar. How do you view this overall situation?