The Food Corporation of Bhutan (FCB) has assured that they have enough stock of salt and it will be available in the market as usual without any changes in price.
Moreover, the suppliers and wholesalers in Phuentshogling also say that the supply of salt in the market has not been disrupted despite mad rush after the salt shortage rumor yesterday.
According to FCB officials, as of yesterday’s record, they have more than 61 metric tonnes of salt in various FCB outlets across the Country. To ensure people that there is no salt crisis, additional 60 metric tonnes is expected to reach the FCB depot in a day or two.
They have also talked to their suppliers in India who are willing to supply FCB with any amount of salt because there is no salt crisis at all. In order to prevent hoarding and creation of artificial shortage in the market, they have notified the outlets across the country not to sell more than three packets of salt to a customer.
Similarly, wholesalers and retailers in Phuentshogling have salt in stock. They said, the supplies from their suppliers have been normal and so is the supply from them to the Bhutanese market.
Bhutan Salt Enterprise, the country’s only salt factory said, though they cater mostly to rural people, they have additional 2,500 metric tonnes of salt in transit. It will reach their factory in a day or two.
Meanwhile, the trade inspectors from the Regional Trade and Industry office have been monitoring the price hike and hoarding in the market since yesterday. The will levy fines and penalties to those shopkeepers found selling the product at more than the normal market price which, for now stands at Nu. 10 per packet.
The Regional Revenue and Customs office have also confiscated about more than 500 kilogrammes of salt at the various exit gates yesterday. People were trying to deflect the product to India from Phuentshogling after the salt crisis rumor.
