Enough food, fuel stock will be able to check inflation: Baskota

As the people have feared of price hike of most of the essential food grains and vegetables due to bandh, a high government official today claimed that the general strike could not create shortage of food grains and fuel – that could shoot the inflation high up – as the Kathmandu valley has enough stock.

"The food grain stock will be enough for three weeks and petroleum products for some nine days," said secretary at the Office of the Prime Minister Krishna Hari Baskota, here today at a programme.

The 33-party alliance led by CPN-Maoist has announced general strike for 10 days starting from November 11 till November 20 to foil Constituent Assembly (CA) election that is scheduled on November 19.

Though the core city area has seen enough vehicles on the road, life in the Valley outskirts and out of the Valley has seen less vehicular movements due to fear of bandh callers, who have resorted to vandalism and arson.

Kathmandu Valley consumes around 350 metric tonnes to 400 metric tonnes of food grain daily, he said, adding that the Nepal Food corporation has 16,400 tonnes of food grain. "The food grain stock will be enough to control unnatural price hike."

likewise, Nepal Oil Corporation has 19,155 kilo litre (kl) petroleum products that is enough for nine days, Baskota added. "There will be no shortage of cooking gas and air turbine fuel (ATF) either."

Though the government has repeatedly failed to crack whip on inflation in the normal times too, he claimed that the general strike would not fuel the price, as the government is regularly monitoring the market.

However, after the agreement with the government yesterday, the transport entrepreneurs have started operating their vehicles. The government has yesterday assured the transporters to pay Rs 50,000 compensation immediately, if the vehicles is damaged by the poll-opposers.