Government urged to control coal, firewood rates

AIBAK (Pajhwok): Some residents in northern Samangan province have complained against the high prices of fuel especially coal in this province and asked the acting government to pay attention in reducing the price of these materials.

Their complaints against soaring fuel items come at a time when coal from the Samangan mines is exported to other provinces and some foreign countries.

According to the wood and coal sellers there was increased in the rates of coal, woods and other items this year compared to the past.

Last year, seven kilograms of coal was accounted for 50 afs which had now surged to 60 afs, while the rates of petrol and gas had reduced.

Edres, the resident of Samangan province told Pajhwok Afghan News: “The lack of business faced us with economic problems for this reason still we have not prepared for the winter so far, I have borrowed some money from a person and will buy some coal with it.”

He asked local officials to addressed this issue and said coalmine existed in the province and the local officials should controlled the coal price so that all the people are able to purchase coal in winter.

Farahuddin, one of the Rackshaw drivers in Aibak, also complained against soaring coal prices and said every year he used to transport coal and firewood for tens of people, and he used to buy fuel for himself, but this year, due to economic problems, people are buying less fuel

Some coal sellers also complained against high fuel items rates and decline of their business activities in the province.

Moahmmad Nabi, one of the firewood and coal sellers, in the province said: “I sell here different varieties of woods and coal, due to inflation our sell had reduced this year.”

He said seven kilograms of almond wood is accounted for 60 afs and seven kilograms of coal accounted for 60 afs, due to high rates this year there are less customers.

He said last year the same quantity of fire wood and coal sold at 50 afs each.

Surge in the prices of fuel items negatively impacted the market and caused the decline of customers, he added.

“When customers come for coal purchase, they complain about the high price of coal, while the coal is extracted from Samangan and the government should pay attention to lowering the price so that people can buy it to meet their needs, and we will sell it too.”

Mawlavi Fida Mohammad Farzam, the representative of Aibak Municipality, said the Samangan coal is not only used by its people but it was dispatched to other provinces and some countries as well.

He said: “If it is continuously used, we will be faced with the shortage and it caused price hike.”

He said a price list had been distributed to sellers in order to control the coal price.

He said the Municipality had fixed the rates of fuel and sellers worked accordingly, adding that in cases of violation legal action would be taken against the violators.

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