‘Unnatural price rise during disaster is loot’: Lawmaker KC

KATHMANDU: Nepali Congress lawmaker Arjun Narsingh KC has drawn the attention of the government towards the shortage of cooking gas in the Kathmandu Valley and the rising price in the market.

Speaking at a meeting of the House of Representatives on Wednesday, lawmaker KC said that although there is a daily demand for 40,000 cylinders of cooking gas in the Kathmandu Valley, the supply is less than half. He said that even after standing in queue for hours, gas is not available but it is easily available at Rs 2,600 per cylinder in the black market.

He said, “When there is a demand for 40,000 cylinders of gas daily in the Kathmandu Valley, the supply is less than half. The situation where gas is not available even after standing in queues for hours but can easily be available in the black market for Rs 2600 has seriously questioned the existence and presence of the state. This unnatural market cycle is a disgusting loot created under the guise of crisis. ’

He said that it was irresponsible of the government that the monitoring agencies were mute spectators and helpless in the name of legal rights.

He said, “The rule that no more than 20 percent profit can be taken is limited to paper only. It is the primary responsibility of the state to ensure that the hearth of the citizens is lit during the disaster. But the government agencies are rubbing salt on the wounds of the people hurt by the silence in this time of grief, Mr. Speaker. ’

KC demanded the formation of a high-level committee from the parliament, saying rescue and relief works have not been effective even after three weeks of the massive floods in Rasuwa and Nuwakot.

He said, “The tragic devastation of the devastating floods in Rasuwa and Nuwakot has passed for three weeks. It has destroyed the lives of thousands of people and destroyed the family lives of tens of thousands of survivors. More than five thousand people are still missing. The search operation is still going on. ’

According to him, the Bidur and Trishuli movement of Nuwakot and the relations with Rasuwa have not been easy yet and the disease has spread.

KC also demanded the immediate construction of five bailey bridges from Betrawati to Galchi.

“The construction of five bailey bridges from Betrawati to Galchhi is very urgent,” he said. ’

KC also urged the government to control black marketing, saying the price of food and fuel has increased unnaturally in the market amid the crisis of floods and landslides.

He said, “In this difficult time of national mourning, grief and calamity, we all want to unite and cooperate with the state in the rescue, relief and rehabilitation of the flood victims.” But despite that, it does not seem appropriate to remain silent now due to the shameless, unnatural and uncontrolled price hike that is happening in the kitchens of the common people under the guise of floods and landslides. ’

Stating that the price of foodstuffs like rice, oil, sugar, meat and egg has increased, he urged the government to take immediate steps to control inflation.

He said that the poor and middle class families have been facing more problems due to the increase in the price of food and fuel by creating artificial scarcity.

He said, “The artificial shortage of food and fuel has led the poor and middle class families to the situation of starvation, which is also a crime against the people. If the government does not immediately monitor the market on a war footing and take strict action against the black marketeers and make the supply easier, then the aggrieved people will be forced to take to the streets. ’

He urged the government to be serious as dissatisfaction among the people might increase due to inflation, price hike and unemployment.