- No need to panic buy, consumers urged
- Hoarders warned
Kathmandu, March 5
The assurance by traders and government officials that there is sufficient stock of essential goods has not dissuaded consumers from panic buying.
Panic spurred by coronavirus scare may lead to shortage of essential goods, as consumers have bought food items and cooking gas in excess. Should the trend continue, the supply chain of goods will be affected, while black marketing will flourish, say consumer rights activists.
Traders are prone to capitalise on such crises — as was the case during the earthquakes and Tarai unrest — by arbitrarily hiking prices of essential goods, as consumers rush to stock up.
“During any crisis, all stakeholders should be aware of their responsibilities. While the government agencies should ensure uninterrupted supply of essential goods, consumers should refrain from making unnecessary purchases,” said Madhav Timalsina, president of Nepal Consumers’ Rights Investigation Forum. “By buying in excess, we are merely opening the doors for traders to play with prices of goods, which will ultimately hit consumers,” he added.
Retailers in Kathmandu valley say consumers have been buying food items — rice, oil, lentils and grains — in excess. “The demand for aforementioned food items has increased notably since the past one week,” said Chandra Shrestha, a retailer based in Chabahil.
Long lines can also be seen in front of liquefied petroleum gas outlets, though Nepal Oil Corporation officials have said the supply of cooking gas is regular and there is no sign of supply disruption.
As consumers have bought more clinical masks, sanitisers and essential drugs than they need, the market has already started witnessing shortage of these products.
Meanwhile, Minister of Industry, Commerce and Supplies Lekhraj Bhatta today urged the public not be swayed by rumours. He assured consumers that the supply of goods, especially food items, is normal and urged them not to buy in excess. Bhatta warned traders against hoarding.
“The government is exploring measures that can be adopted to cope with the effects of coronavirus in the domestic market. However, panic buying will hit the supply chain and create problems,” said Bhatta.
Meanwhile, the government has also taken stock of the quantities of essentials and other products with the private sector and government agencies, including NOC, Nepal Food Corporation and Salt Trading Corporation.
Netra Prasad Subedi, director general at the Department of Commerce, Supplies and Consumer Protection, said market order could be maintained with support from all stakeholders — government, traders and consumers. “Immediate action will be taken against traders engaged in hoarding or black-marketing,” he warned.
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