KATHMANDU: President of the House of Representatives Industry and Commerce and Labour and Consumer Welfare Committee, Rahbar Ansari, has directed the government to take strict action against anyone creating artificial shortages or increasing prices by exploiting the current disaster.
He warned that while natural disasters have disrupted the supply chain, using these road blocks as an excuse for black marketeering is unacceptable.
Ansari noted that recent floods and landslides have severely damaged major highways, causing significant disruptions to the supply of essential goods and cooking gas.
Specifically, he mentioned that the road obstruction at Krishna Bhir has prevented gas bullets from reaching Kathmandu. He warned that if anyone attempts to hoard gas or hike prices under the guise of these disruptions, they will not be spared.
Informing that the Department of Commerce has been directed to intensify market monitoring, Ansari stated that if current government manpower is insufficient, additional resources must be deployed to control black marketeering. He clarified that while the parliamentary committee provides policy direction, the primary responsibility for implementation lies with the executive branch.
Addressing criticism regarding the committee’s meetings, Ansari described the intense debates among lawmakers as a natural part of reaching the root cause of the problem. He said, ‘It is natural for there to be some heated debate when examining the causes of a problem in detail. We are focused not only on immediate relief but also on developing medium and long-term strategies to solve consumer issues permanently.’
Stating that the Nepal Oil Corporation and ministry mechanisms are working continuously to restore the supply chain, he emphasized the need for cooperation between the state, businesses and consumers during this crisis. Reiterating the committee’s firm stance on consumer rights, he stressed that the government must immediately penalize anyone seeking to cause hardship to the public or gain unfair profits.
