The government distributed noodles and biscuits worth Rs66.64 million to earthquake survivors, the Ministry of Industry said. Dried foods were issued to people whose houses were destroyed and food stocks lost during the disaster.

A total of 118,000 cartons of noodles and 175 tonnes of biscuits were dispatched to the affected areas.

Ministry spokesperson Yam Kumari Khatiwada said that the Industry Ministry purchased dried foods as assigned by the Cabinet.

“The figure refers to government distributed dried foods. It does not cover foods distributed by non-governmental organizations and volunteers,” she said. According to the ministry, the food distribution phase has ended.

The ministry procured dried foods from eight companies, namely Pokhara Foods, Pashupati Biscuit Industries, Pashupati Diet and Food, Karmacharya Bakes and Foods, Asian Biscuit and Confectionery, Smart Foods and Snacks, Pokhara Noodles and Jagadamba Foods.

According to Khatiwada, they were chosen after studying their proposals. According to the ministry, payment for all the supplies has already been made.

Meanwhile, the ministry said that it had instructed the factories producing goods intended for distribution to quake victims to show the maximum retail price on the packaging.