By Karuna Thapa
Kathmandu, April 18
The Department of Commerce, Supplies, and Consumer Protection have collected Rs. 118.61 million from 2,129 businesses in the Kathmandu Valley. According to Hari Pangeni, the department’s head, nearly half of the monitored businesses have been punished.
He said that the company that made the frequent error was given a second chance to improve. During that time, 900 businesses were told to make general improvements, while 461 businesses were told to produce required paperwork or explanations.
In addition, inedible or expired food products worth Rs 53,054,847 were eliminated right away. During the same time period, 368 businesses were punished, while 627 food and grocery outlets were under surveillance.
There are 186 cosmetic and clothing stores, 112 pharmacies, eight stationery stores, ten
surgical houses, 53 egg and meat shops, 34 marts, 16 fuel, and coal stores, nine petrol stations, seven grocery stores, 20 department stores, and 31 liquor and beverage stores. A total of 887 enterprises were inspected, including 68 fruit and vegetable stores, 50 dairy and pastry shops, and 50 other industries.
Firms that have charged higher rates to customers, manufactured fake shortages and engaged in black marketing, sold expired commodities and failed to maintain purchase and sales vouchers have all been fined between Rs 5000 and Rs 3 lakh during the monitoring.
According to the department, businesses that conduct illegal business have been punished under the Consumer Protection Act, 2075 BS.
According to Dhaneshwor Poudel, the department’s information officer, the surveillance has been focused on gas and rods after customers complained that the costs of building supplies, including rods, had been excessive in the market and that gas sellers had been hiding LP gas for cooking.
He mentioned that the department monitors the market on a regular basis, concentrating on consumer products and quality and that the department monitors the market on a regular basis.
