Sep 23, Kathmandu- It is not new that the price of sugar is expensive as the major festival of Nepal, Dashain, Tihar is approaching, but this time sugar has reached up to 150 rupees per kg. It is also not easily available in all shops.

Sugar, which was traded at 100 rupees per kg only a month ago, has now increased to 150 rupees. During the big Nepali festivals of Dashain, Tihar and Chhath, when sugar is consumed more, where are the responsible bodies of the government even when limited traders take control of the market and create an artificial shortage of sugar and black market price? Consumers are asking questions.

Consumer rights activist Premlal Maharjan said that because of the government, Nepali consumers have been hit by high prices. Also, the National Consumer Forum, chaired by Maharjan, had requested the government to purchase subsidized sugar three months ago and sell it to the common consumers through the government's Food, Supply and Trading Company and Salt Trading Corporation. He said that until the government intervenes to control the black market in sugar, there will be no price control in the market, Gorkhapatra reported.