As Diwali and Chhath festival approaches, the black market of sugar has increased rapidly and the price has also increased. As the supply of sugar is less compared to the demand in the market, the black market has increased during the festival. However, the controlling body seems to be weak. The demand for sugar across the country is about 3 lakh metric tons. A dozen sugar mills operate nationwide in Biratnagar, Kapilvastu, Bara, Rautahat, and Sarlahi. According to the Birgunj Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the domestic production of which is only about one and a half lakh metric tons.This year, for Tihar and Chhath, the government has decided to take 3,000 metric tons of sugar from the industrialists and send it to the market. It has been decided to give 10 sacks of sugar to a trader through salt trading. Industrialists say that to stop the black market of sugar that occurs every year during the festive season, the government should take into account the demand of consumers across the country and store sugar by July.Ganesh Lath, the current president of Madhes Province of the Federation of Industries and Commerce, says that except for domestic production, all the sugar that has entered the market is smuggled through customs.Govt in 4 months of the current financial year according to the customs statistics, Birgunj has not imported a grain of sugar from India.The government should be able to manage the supply on time according to the demand of the people. However, by starting the process of bringing sugar before Dasain and Chhath, the government itself has started the black market,” said Lath, the current president of the Madhes Pradesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry.In Raxol, India, sugar is Rs 65 per kg. On the other hand, up to Bara, Parsa, the price of sugar is Rs.The government has imposed a 30 percent duty on sugar excluding VAT. The private sector is not allowed to import sugar except for the government agency salt trading. Industrialists say that after India also banned the export of sugar due to the increase in domestic consumption during the festival, the black market for imported sugar has increased in the market.Hari Gautam Ukhu, senior vice president of Birgunj Chamber of Commerce and IndustryThe internal production of sugar can be doubled if the state makes only minor changes in its policy by coordinating between the productive farmers, sugar mill operators, and banks. With this, the country can become self-sufficient in sugar.According to Senior Vice President Gautam, about 130,000 metric tons of sugar are stolen annually. According to him, smuggled sugar enters through 3 ways.Big traders in collaboration with the customs bring sugar by hiding it in a rice truck. On the other hand, hundreds of thousands of kilos of sugar from the villages in the border area enter Raxol through customs every day, and that sugar is stored in the big warehouses of Ranighat in Birganj. They say after a 30 percent tax was imposed on sugar, Basmati rice trucks are loaded with sugar, according to industrialists. Last week, Parsa police seized 200 quintals of sugar in a rice truck from Parwanipur while it was being loaded from Birganj and was being taken to Kathmandu. Similarly, the district police office in Simra has also seized 17 quintals of sugar in Birgunj Pathalaiya Industrial Corridor since October 1. Premchandra Go, Secretary of Commerce of Birgunj Industry and Commerce Association, says that for the import of sugar, the government should allow traders to import sugar through the quota system.He also said that smuggling should be stopped. There are more than a dozen police checkpoints from Birgunj Customs to Ratomate in Makwanpur. But how did the smuggled goods reach Kathmandu?’ Secretary Gole says, ‘This means that every post is smuggled in a setting with the police.’Our focus now is only on checking the sugar: Parsaka pragma regmi.The chief district officer of Parsa, Hiralal Regmi, has said that since the demand in the market is high due to the festival, the monitoring has been strict so as not to create an artificial shortage.The local administration has issued a public notice and requested to provide information if there is a black market of sugar or if someone has hidden sugar. Those who bring sugars from India by bicycle for small results are for household purposes it is for commercial purposes, we have given instructions to tighten the checks,” said Prazia Regmi of Parsa.According to Regmi, there was no sugar shortage until one and a half to two months ago. However, it seems that the traders are hiding the sugar to sell it at a high price during the festival. Whether it is a small bicycle or a big truck from India, we have strictly checked the goods.Customs duty on sugar, protection of indigenous products: Virgunj Customs chief PanthiHead of Birgunj Customs Office, Dilaram Panthi said that the main purpose of imposing a 30% value-added tax on sugar is to protect domestic production.Panthi, the head of customs, said, “In addition to VAT, 30 percent customs duty is levied on sugar in our Economic Act. The Indian government banned the export of sugar from the last year’s budget and the lack of sugar in the market is also due to low domestic production.”According to the Customs Office, no sugar was imported from Birgunj customs point in the current financial year. Others on the issue of the black market of sugar all over the country during the festival said that the relevant agencies should be strict in monitoring. Customs chief Panthi said that the sugar coming from illegal routes is being controlled and sold at auction daily.Farmers did not get subsidies On average, 8.5 kg of sugar is produced per quintal of sugarcane in Nepal. On the other hand, 10.5 kg of sugar is produced in neighboring countries Bihar and 11 kg in Maharashtra’ Senior Vice President Hari Gautam said, ‘If farmers do not get quality seeds, fertilizers, on time, it has a direct impact on sugar production.’Generally, when farmers crush sugarcane within 72 hours of harvesting, quality sugar is produced. However, the sugar mill operators have to wait for sugarcane crushing for weeks to months after the farmers receive the sugarcane challan.