Kathmandu, August 9

Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies has started making preparations for market monitoring ahead of festive seasons.

As the festival season is nearing, the ministry held a meeting with stakeholders today for the preparations of market monitoring during festivals.

Presenting the current status of marketing monitoring, Yogendra Gauchan, director general of the Department of Commerce, Supply and Consumer Protection, said that in lack of human resources, market monitoring is not being effective in most of rural areas.

“Although the market monitoring has been effective within the valley, monitoring is still to gather momentum outside the valley,” he said. “All the local governments do not have skilled manpower and technicians, thus the market monitoring is not being effective across the country.”

He further said that either the skilled manpower should be hired or the existing human resources should be trained to bridge the gap in market monitoring. He, however, said that the number of human resources also needed to be increased.

“Moreover in lack of regulation of Consumer Protection Act 2018, we have been unable to take effective actions during the monitoring,” he said.

He further said that the market monitoring this year will start earlier unlike in the past. The department will make sure that there is no shortage of basic goods in market this festival, he added.

Besides, the government this year will collect the prices of food and other goods beforehand and the details will also be distributed to the provincial governments. And those found to be selling goods at inflated prices will be punished based on the Consumer Protection Act, he added.

He also requested the ministry to coordinate with other ministries and the local governments to facilitate transportation of goods from one place to another.

Similarly, like every year fair price shops will be operated in coordination with Food Management and Trade Company Ltd, Salt Trading Corporation and Dairy Development Corporation.

Likewise, the Food Management and Trade Company Ltd will supply a limited number of goats and mountain goats to maintain its market price.