National
Bajura villages reel under salt shortage
People living in remote Rugin, Bichhaya and Badhu VDCs in Bajura district are facing shortage of salt.People living in remote Rugin, Bichhaya and Badhu VDCs in Bajura district are facing shortage of salt.
The villagers have been compelled to pay Rs 50 to Rs 100 for a packet of iodised salt. The Salt Trading Corporation (STC) has been supplying salt in Martadi, the district headquarters of Bajura, and Kolti.
People of Rugin, Bichhaya and Badhu VDCs have to walk for two to six days to reach Kolti.
Rupa Budhthapa of Rugin-5 said the local traders charge Rs 50 for a packet of salt because there are no STC depot nearby.
The salt depots established in Kawadi and Dhulachaur two years are closed these days. The local traders have been importing salt from Kolti depot and selling it at high price.
In Martadi, people can buy a packet of salt for Rs 9. Prem Bahadur Rokaya
of Bichhaya VDC said the authorities have not taken any action against the
traders charging exorbitant price for salt.