JAJARKOT: People in Jajarkot district are forced to consume substandard commodities as more than 80 per cent of the products in the local markets are found to be date-expired.

Since the local authority hardly carries out market monitoring in Jajarkot and Rukum districts, shopkeepers in these districts are selling date-expired products without any qualm.

Sales of date-expired medicines and food items, biscuits, beverages and cooking oil among others at the markets of Kalimati, Chaukha, Rimna, Thalaha Bazar, Ghat, Cheda, Merka and Tullu in Jajarkot and Aathbiskot Radi in Rukum district are going unchecked.

The products ferried through the roads of Jajarkot and Rukum to Dolpa are also substandard, according to Ramchandra Neupane, one of the locals in Dolpa.

Lack of awareness among the consumers is one of the reasons for the continuity of hassle-free sales and consumption of date expired products in these areas, said Neupane, adding that the locals are not concerned with the details of products including MRP, manufacturing date and expiry date.

It has been learned that the local authority cited the remoteness of these markets as a reason for not tightening the noose against shopkeepers selling inedible products.

However, Assistant Chief District Officer at Jajarkot, Janak Raj Sharma pledged that the market monitoring would be stepped up after the Tihar festival.