Pokhara, November 22

Salt crunch has hit the locals of Kaski and surrounding districts hard.

It is said that Salt Trading Corporation Limited Gandaki Zonal Office, Pokhara, was able to supply 30 per cent salt as per the market demand till some days ago. At present, the salt in stock is enough for one day while the godown has the capacity to store salt for up to one month.

At least 10,000 quintals salt is needed for Tanahun, Gorkha, Lamjung, Syangja, Parbat and Kaski districts every month, but there is hardly 1,000 quintals salt in the godown at present.

Acting Chief Suresh Rajbhandari at the STC zonal office said that only 140 quintal salt was supplied on a daily basis. He further informed that the salt crunch rumour in India has badly affected the districts.

“Consumers bought the more than needed salt after the rumour spread and workers assigned for packing salt were transferred to the sugar packing,” he added. Rajbhandari assured that salt would be available in the market within a week.

It is said that Salt Trading Corporation brings dust salt from Gujarat, India, which is packed in Kathmandu, Nepalgunj, Birgunj, Biratnagar, Bhairahawa and Dhangadi and distributed across the county.

Rajbhandari said workers were busy packing sugar to provide to consumers at a cheap rate during the festival season in Kathmandu and Birgunj. “STC has sufficient salt and can sustain for five months throughout the country,” he informed, adding that salt would not become scarce in the market as salt was being packed.

Meanwhile, the zonal office has sold only 15 sacks of to wholesalers, who had bought 100 sacks earlier.

Proprietor Balaram Giri of Royal Horse Traders at Nayasadak, Pokhara, said that he was offering two to three kg salt to consumers despite their demands. “I have been providing limited amount of salt to consumers.

STC has assured easy availability of within a week,” he said. STC has been supplying Aayo Salt in all the districts of the country.