Complaints of weak market monitoring

Rajbiraj, October 8

Consumers reported they were being cheated due to lack of effective market monitoring ahead of the festival season in Saptari.

They said market monitoring was just for namesake and the authority concerned did not take action against fraudulent businessmen.

Civil Society Network Saptari Chair Khushram Yadav said finding shops that did not sell date-expired goods was rare. “The administration did not carry out market monitoring effectively,” he added. Consumers said most entrepreneurs fled after the monitoring team reached their doorsteps for inspection.

Local Yogendra Yadav at Rajbiraj Municipality said even drug store owners were selling date- expired medicines. “The administration has remained silent though it was informed about the same,” he added.

Reportedly, outdated goods and materials were being sold at Pato, Kalyanpur, Kathauna, Kanchanpur, Phattepur, Hanumannagar, Madhupatti, Kushaha and Mauwaha, among other places in the district. Locals said businessmen were selling outdated products ahead of festivals. They added that the administration was mum and took no action against such businesses.

Meanwhile, Food Technology and Quality Control Division Office Rajbiraj Chief Suresh Singh said market monitoring would continue and admitted no action was taken against local businessmen. “However, we immediately destroyed date-expired goods when found,” he claimed.