KATHMANDU, SEPTEMBER 24
The Department of Commerce, Supplies and Consumer Protection has intensified market monitoring in the wake of the approaching festivals.
Last week, the department had monitored 272 firms. A team of inspectors mobilised by the department slapped a fine of Rs 200,000 on a department store at Madhyapur Thimi, Bhaktapur, on Wednesday.
The department store was fined for changing the standards, price and weighs of the goods in violation of the rules. Similarly, the team on Thursday fined a grocery located at Imadol of Lalitpur Rs 200,000 for fleecing consumers.
Of a total of 844 firms monitored since July 17, 175 firms were fined. A total of Rs 3.531 million revenue was collected from the fine.
Inedible goods worth Rs 2.399 million was destroyed during inspection, according to the department. The monitoring team directed firms facing action to keep registration document updated, display price list and registration certificates, which the consumers could see easily.
Ten teams of the department monitored groceries, vegetable and fruit shops, pharmacies, fresh houses, liquor store, dairy, cosmetic stores and sweet shops.
Director at the department Hari Pangeni said they had intensified market monitoring so that consumers would not be cheated while buying goods during the festivals. Meanwhile, organisations working for the rights of consumers shared that the government had not been able to carry out market monitoring in an effective manner.
Chairperson of Consumer Rights Research Forum Madhav Timilsina shared that the government mechanism had not been able to carry out effective work to protect and promote consumer rights. He mentioned that there was a trend of cheating consumers on different pretexts in the market as the government had no clear data of supply and consumption of daily essentials.
A version of this article appears in the print on September 25, 2022 of The Himalayan Times.
