People living in remote parts of Humla district face the grim prospect of shortage of subsidised rice during Tihar festival next month.

Humla District residents living in hinterland had faced shortage of rice during Dashain, residents complained.

There is not enough quantity of rice in Simkot depot of the Nepal Food Corporation (NFC). Currently, there is only 335 quintals of rice left in Simkot depot and majority of the depots in the villages are vacant.

Private airline companies had agreed to transport rice to the district, but because of the delay, people are facing difficulties to buy rice during the festival season. Villagers said they have been paying exorbitant prices for foodgrain because of the shortage at the NFC depots.“There will be no celebration in Tihar if we do not receive rice this time,” said Ram Chandra Budha, a resident of Simkot. People observed Dashain with acute shortage of rice, he said.

These days, Simkot NFC depot only sells rice in emergency. According to the depot, subsidised rice is only being sold to police office and students who are staying in a hostel. People living in Sarkeghar and Chankheli in Humla district are compelled to travel to Gamgadhi and Tajakot in Mugu district to purchase rice whereas the residents of Adanchuli have to visit Kolti in Bajura district to purchase rice.The affected people complained that they have to pay Rs 180 for one kilo of rice.

The district based NFC officials blamed contractor companies for the delay in rice supply.The Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies claimed that there is sufficient amount of rice in all depots of Humla.