Govt accused of concentrating its focus on collecting cash penalty, but showing least concern about improving market monitoring system

KATHMANDU, Dec 26: The Department of Commerce, Supplies and Consumers Protection (DoCSCP) collected Rs 770,000 in cash penalty from traders allegedly involved in market anomalies last week in Kathmandu Valley.

The records with the DoCSCP show that the amount was collected from 36 traders on the spot. Over the period, the DoCSCP conducted cross inspections of 89 outlets in the Kathmandu Valley.

These outlets were slapped with fines ranging from Rs 5,000 to Rs 100,000 each. Of them, a grocery shop in Dhunge Adda and a dealer of drinking water in Mulpani area were fined Rs 100,000 each and a grocery in Chabahil was charged with Rs 50,000. These shops were taken action for not having renewed operating licenses.

According to DoCSCP, most of the penalized outlets were involved in the businesses of drinking water and edibles items. Among other things, these traders are accused of not maintaining price lists, not helping the monitoring officers in the course of their inspection process and not renewing their licenses on time.

The government has been collecting a huge amount of money in cash penalty from the traders found involved in market anomalies. In FY 2020/21, the total cash penalty collected from unscrupulous businesspersons at the spot was around Rs 23 million.

However, the consumers have failed to get any respite despite such actions largely due to lack of effective monitoring mechanisms. As a result, the selling of expired food items and charging exorbitantly high prices to consumers are rampant in many places across the country. 

 
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