April 9: The Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies has been working actively to make sure that there is smooth supply of essential goods including food items during the ongoing nationwide lockdown.    
Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Lekhraj Bhatta and his team have been visiting several food stores in the Kathmandu Valley to inspect the stores and have been instructing the concerned persons to make sure the general public get food items without hindrance.    
Minister Bhatta told the National News Agency (RSS) that the ministry had been taking stock of the storage and supplies of daily consumable goods including food items regularly. “We have made sure that no inconvenience be caused to the general public to avail the food items.”    
At the special initiative of the ministry, the Nepal Oil Corporation has been importing LPG gas more than the regular demand. Anyone can get full cylinders of LGP gas from the National Salt Trading’s office at Teku.    
Secretary at the Ministry, Dr Baikuntha Aryal, shared that his team comprising Minister Bhatta made an on-site visit to some food stores at Kalimati and Kuleshwar area on Wednesday (April 8).    
Minister Bhatta urged the store keepers for their facilitation to ensure smooth supply of food items to the general public. He also asked them to contact the ministry or directly to him in case of problems.    
Store proprietor Devendra Bhakta Shrestha informed the visiting delegation that they had rice, lentils and flour which could cater to the need to the Kathmandu Valley folks for a month.    
He urged the minister for his positive intervention in arranging vehicles and labourers for the supply of food items from their store to other outlets. -- RSS