SANGAM

Strike call terror spurs buying spree
SANGAM PRASAIN
KATHMANDU, APR 28 - Though there are still three more days to go for the Maoists' indefinite nationwide strike to begin on Sunday, people have already started feeling its impact. Since morning, there was a rush at the petrol pumps, retailers, wholesalers and other markets across the Capital. Long queues were in place in wait for essential items and foodstuff, wholesalers and retailers said. According to them, customers have already started stocking the bulk of major essential goods to tide over the general strike period. Items like, edible oil, rice, salt, sugar and petroleum products among other items are being stocked at home fearing possible unavailability. Wholesaler Keshar Man Bista said that city dwellers, who normally do their shopping in the last week of every month are rushing to shop in the first week. "With pressure mounting on customers, sales have increased by 100 percent in the last few days," Bista said. He said the demand for foodstuffs has gone up significantly after the indefinite strike call. Nirmala Shrestha, shopping on Tuesday for essential items, said, "No one knows how long the strike will continue." "The indefinite strike call has also fuelled the possibility of hoarding and black marketing of foodstuffs in the market," Bista added. He said that many wholesalers in the capital have sufficient food stock with capacity to address the demand for the next three weeks. "However, some wholesalers may indulge in black marketing by creating a false shortage to take advantage of the fears evoked by the strike call," he added. According to the Ministry of Commerce and Supplies, the strike will not much affect the supply of daily essential goods as compared to petroleum products. "If the strike continues for a long time, the government can impose a curfew to bring in petroleum products," said Ganesh Dhakal, spokesperson at the Supplies Ministry. Dhakal said the government would monitor the market regularly to discourage black marketing and hoarding. However, Mukunda Dhungel, spokesperson at the Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC), said that due to strikes there would not be any vehicular movement, "So, there will be no petroleum products except LPG," he said. The Gas Dealer Federation-Nepal has said it has stocked adequate LPG for a month to overcome any shortage during the strike. Issuing a press statement, the Federation has appealed to customers not to worry about the shortage and has requested them to dial 4168264 if any seller is found black marketing LPG.