Food shortage affects life in remote Jumla

JUMLA, Nov 25: A liter of edible oil costs Rs 240 and it is not yet something easily available in Jumla. Rice, pulses, noodles and biscuits are rarely found in the local market though their prices are unimaginably high as compared with prices in other parts of the nation. [break]

Jumla has been suffering from an acute food shortage. It is not yet certain when this remote district could do away with this menace as there is no sign the obstructed Karnali Highway (Surkhet-Jumla Road) will reopen.

"Unless the road reopens, price hike is not a real concern as there is no stock at all. [The concern is famine]," said Govinda Bahadur Shahi, president of Jumla Chamber of Commerce and Industries. The stocks of grain and other daily consumption stuff, accumulated before the rainy season, had finished up by the last week of October.

After land transportation was halted, supply via air has been the only alternative left for Jumla. However, the airlines are reluctant to transport commodities, and if they ever agree, the costs go uncontrollably high. Private airlines charge Rs 65 per kilogram to transport the goods from Surkhet and Nepalgunj. Subsequently, a kilogram of rice costing Rs 30 in Nepalgunj costs Rs 95 after landing at Jumla Airport. "Who can dare to afford Rs 100 for a kilogram of rice?" said local trader Padam Sejuwal.

About one-and-a-half dozen of groceries in Khalanga bazzar are empty. Local hoteliers are buying grains from the farmers though the makeshift arrangement is not going to last longer as the farmers, too, have limited stocks. "We do not know how we can serve our guests if the road does not open soon," said Parbati Mahat, the proprietor of Hotel Snowland.

Before the road was obstructed, daily consumption commodities in Jumla would cost Rs 10 more on average compared to the market price in Surkhet. Shahi claimed that the local businessmen are honestly trading despite hassles. "They sold out stocks at usual prices," he said. "Sugar is still being sold out for the same price."

The culprit behind the crunch, obstruction of the Karnali Highway due to monsoon damage, is said to be lasting for at least three more weeks. Most of the eroded parts are repaired but the road blockade in Kalikot segment, due to a massive landslide, has not been removed yet. Chief of Surkhet-Jumla Road Project Bedaraj Yogal said that works are on war footing to remove the blockade in Kalikot.