Price hike to hit urban consumers
KATHMANDU:
Consumer groups criticised the budget for not bringing any relief programme to poor and middle-class people. “The expansionary budget does not have relief programmes for consumers except promises to control price hike like always,” according to them.
“People living in urban areas will suffer more from skyrocketing price,” general secretary of Forum for Protection of Consumer Rights Nepal Jyoti Baniya said, adding that salary hike of civil servants will add extra financial burden to urban dwellers.
“Maintaining price hike at seven per cent is a day dream when illegal market forces are active. Without abolishing syndicate, cartelling and hoarding it is not possible, he said.
According to him, the government’s promise to maintain smooth supply of petroleum products and food grains is just a promise.
Similarly, National Consumer Forum has said that budget 2011-12 will increase price of essential consumer goods. “There are not specific programmes to control price hike,” said president of the forum Prem Lal Maharjan. “There is not additional budget and programmes in strengthening price control mechanisms,” he said, suggesting to implement last year’s decision of controlling syndicate in transport sector to providing relief to consumer.
“If the transportation cost will be adjusted scientifically, it could reduce price significantly,” he said. The Supreme Court has also given verdict against syndicate and cartelling some five months ago but it is still in practice.
Likewise reforming petroleum sector irregularities can also reduce price. “Suggestions of High-Level Investigation Committee must be implemented at the earliest, he suggested.
Source: THT
Consumer groups criticised the budget for not bringing any relief programme to poor and middle-class people. “The expansionary budget does not have relief programmes for consumers except promises to control price hike like always,” according to them.
“People living in urban areas will suffer more from skyrocketing price,” general secretary of Forum for Protection of Consumer Rights Nepal Jyoti Baniya said, adding that salary hike of civil servants will add extra financial burden to urban dwellers.
“Maintaining price hike at seven per cent is a day dream when illegal market forces are active. Without abolishing syndicate, cartelling and hoarding it is not possible, he said.
According to him, the government’s promise to maintain smooth supply of petroleum products and food grains is just a promise.
Similarly, National Consumer Forum has said that budget 2011-12 will increase price of essential consumer goods. “There are not specific programmes to control price hike,” said president of the forum Prem Lal Maharjan. “There is not additional budget and programmes in strengthening price control mechanisms,” he said, suggesting to implement last year’s decision of controlling syndicate in transport sector to providing relief to consumer.
“If the transportation cost will be adjusted scientifically, it could reduce price significantly,” he said. The Supreme Court has also given verdict against syndicate and cartelling some five months ago but it is still in practice.
Likewise reforming petroleum sector irregularities can also reduce price. “Suggestions of High-Level Investigation Committee must be implemented at the earliest, he suggested.
Source: THT
