By TRN Online, Kathmandu June 30: The price of daily consumable goods have been persistently rising. It has hit hard especially to those who have lost job and the unemployed at this catastrophic time of COVID-19 pandemic.

Bibek Thapa who used to sale shoes and sandals in cart have now become unemployed. He said his means of living have been snatched away, and the self-employed is finding a tough time to arrange for daily meals. His cart is stored for the last two months depriving him of livelihoods.

He added that COVID-19 crisis has made it more difficult for lower income group to run life.

Consumer right activists accused that limited traders have been taking advantage of the pandemic crisis due to lack of monitoring by regulatory agencies.

Madhav Timilsina, President of the Consumer Right Investigation Forum, said that monitoring has become weaker due to lack of human resources and means of supervision.

He said that the Consumer Protection Act 2075 and Regulation 2076 has provision to classify the level of market. But its implementation has been affected due to the negligence of the ministry to prepare directive for it.

The Department of Commerce, Supplies and Consumer Protection, which is responsible for market monitoring, has concluded that level of market is the main reason of rise in price.

The department claimed that the creation of different layers of market to bulge profit is the main reason for rise in price.

Director General of Department of Commerce supplies and Consumer Protection, Prakash Poudel, informed that a high level joint monitoring conducted by the Department of Commerce, Nepal Bureau of Standards and Metrology and Nepal Oil Cooperation showed level of market as the main reason for rise in price of consumer goods.

According to him, the joint monitoring team inspected shops and industries in Dhanubashi of Dading, Naubase, Muglin of Chitwan, Makwanpur, and Bara, Parsa in different LP gas industry and petrol pump, and production units of ghee, oil, pulses and rice.

He said that in spite of sufficiency in production and supply, the creation of different layers has made the price to rise.

"There was no problem in production during the period of Prohibitory Order. The creation of multiple level is the only reason for rise in price" he added.

The monitoring found that some oil company had created 4 to 5 different layers to bulge profit while edible product including Sugar Company had created more than 6 layers.

He said that Supply system will be quick if there is only 3 to 4 level. Addition of commission and profit for every level has given rise to price.