Aug 28, 2020
Kathmandu’s Market Inspection Committee (MIC) is all set to monitor the agri-produce markets as vegetables and fruits are getting too expensive and beyond affordable by common man.
In the last few weeks, prices of green vegetables and fruits have gone up in the Kathmandu Valley. The local consumers are forced to pay through nose to buy the supplies, and some of them can hardly afford the vegetables anymore.
As the media approached one consumer, she stated that she did not purchase tomatoes, after a kilo of it was priced Rs. 100. “Even cabbage costs Rs. 70 per kg, and you don’t get anything for less than Rs. 100 per kg.”
The prices are spiraling at a time when people have lost their jobs and some of them surviving on reduced incomes. All this due to the pandemic as authorities have enforced a lockdown. Traders and vendors are hiking the prices of vegetables, fruits and essential food items when the city is in the grip of Covid-19. Consumers informed that the authorities and concern departments are doing nothing to rein in the prices.
Seeing the chaos and after much public criticism, the Kathmandu Metropolitan City has announced its plan to monitor the market but consumer rights groups have negative thoughts saying that they don’t readily believe the authorities will be able to bring down the prices and soothe the wounds.
Municipal market inspection committee chief Hari Prabha Khadgi, the deputy mayor, announced: “We are working with all stakeholders to carry out an inspection.”