KATHMANDU; The government today said it would make the inventory of the foodstuff lying in 13 warehouses that were sealed on suspicion of hoarding the essential commodities to jack up prices. Bhola Prasad Siwakoti, CDO, District Administration Office, Kathmandu, said the law enforcement authorities were scheduled to finalise the inventory of the food commodities and grains piled up in 13 warehouses belonging to KL Dugar Group, Pawan Kumar Agrawal, Chandreshwor Prasad Kalwar and Pawan Bansal across the Valley. A joint team of DAO, Department of Commerce, Metropolitan Police Range and consumer rights defenders had raided and sealed the warehouses on Saturday. “Probe is on to find out whether the business bigwigs were playing with the poor consumers,” said Siwakoti, adding that more raids were in the offing. According to Govinda Raj Gauli, government prosecutor at DAO, a case would be lodged against the traders in accordance with Black Marketeering and Other Social Crimes and Punishment Crimes Act-1975, if found hoarding foodstuff. The guilty could be slapped a fine of up to Rs 25,000 or life imprisonment as per the nature of crime. Meanwhile, the DAO today summoned the owners — with their respective letter of credit and purchase bills of the food commodities to show cause why they shouldn’t be litigated — of the warehouses sealed by law enforce authorities. However, none of the representatives showed up at DAO barring KL Dugar Group, Agrawal and Bansal Enterprises. Gauli said they would produce themselves before DAO on Monday.

Shop price lists to be monitored

KATHMANDU: Minister of Commerce and Supplies Rajendra Mahato today said the ministry along with the local administration will monitor the price lists in various shops selling daily consumption items from tomorrow. He, however, did not explain what action the government would take if shopkeepers did not abide by the rule. “The price list is a must in the shops trading in daily consumption items. All shops will be investigated and those getting blacklisted will be penalised accordingly,” Mahato said.

Plea to public

• “Public can inform the law enforcement authorities about hoarding and cartelling and put pressure on government to combat the unethical trade practices,” says Kuber Singh Rana, DIG and incharge at Police Crime Investigation Division. • “Consumers should be aware of such crimes to help the government take action against the black marketeers,” says Jyoti Baniya, general secretary, Consumer Rights Protection Forum.