“We have already supplied allocated rice to the district this fiscal year. However, the branch is running in short supply and we have informed the centre,” said Shankar Sapkota, chief of Nepalgunj-based NFC zonal office.

He claimed the branch will not be able to receive additional rice and urged the authorities concerned to make an early decision so that the district does not reel under shortage of subsidised rice. Hilly districts often face shortage of rice during the monsoon.

The NFC had supplied 6,000 quintals of rice to the district this fiscal year, said Nawaraj Upadhyay, spokesperson of NFC central office, adding that efforts are under way to make additional supply.

The Ministry of Commerce and Supplies has asked us to make the additional supply, Upadhyay said. “The ministry has directed us to supply rice to the district and it will reach there by the Nepali month of Asadh.”

He, however, said that other hilly districts have enough rice in stock. “The NFC branch in Jumla has 6,125 quintals of the subsidised rice, 2,492 in Dolpa, 5,986

in Mugu, 1,593 in Kalikot, 1,302 in Dailekh and 1,120 in Jajarkot.”