Kathmandu, October 5
A day after the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the Parliament directed the government to determine sugar price at Rs 63 per kg, Minister of Industry, Commerce and Supplies Matrika Prasad Yadav said that his ministry is not in a position to implement House committee’s decision.
Citing that the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies (MoICS) had not reached any understanding with sugar mill operators to not let sugar price rise above Rs 63 per kg as claimed by lawmakers, Minister Yadav informed during a press meet here today that capping sugar price at the said rate is not feasible.
“The ministry has received a letter from PAC regarding the sugar price. As determining sugar price at the given rate is not possible, we will forward the letter to the office of the prime minister and wait for its response,” said Yadav.
Informing that a few days ago, the MoICS had directed all stakeholders not to let sugar price cross Rs 70 per kg in the retail market, Yadav said that the government will take action against all those found to be selling the product at above Rs 70 per kg.
Against the backdrop of ballooning price of sugar, especially after the government imposed import restriction on sugar import on September 17, the PAC meeting on Thursday had directed the government to do the needful to bring down the price of sugar to Rs 63 per kg.
Under pressure from sugar mill operators, who claimed to be facing difficulty in clearing their stocks owing to the flow of imported cheaper sugar in the domestic market, the government has fixed an import quota of 100,000 tonnes of sugar for the ongoing fiscal year.
On a lighter note, Yadav opined that House panel should not engage itself in fixing price of commodities. “Otherwise, just to be fair, it should also fix the price of other goods, not just that of sugar,” he added.
Meanwhile, Yadav also refuted the charge made by lawmakers that the ministry officials were engaged in corruption related to sugar price hike issue. “The House committee can open a probe into such issues and moot action against the offenders,” he added.
Similarly, Yadav also informed that the government will intensify market inspection activities targeting the upcoming festive season. “All offences occurring in the market will be dealt with legally,” he said.
The post ‘Infeasible to follow PAC’s direction on sugar price’ appeared first on The Himalayan Times.
Written by Nikki Hamal
This news first appeared on https://thehimalayantimes.com/business/infeasible-to-follow-pacs-direction-on-sugar-price/ under the title “‘Infeasible to follow PAC’s direction on sugar price’”. Bolchha Nepal is not responsible or affiliated towards the opinion expressed in this news article.
