Kathmandu, October 13
The government has deployed 50 staff members to monitor markets across the Kathmandu Valley to prevent artificial shortages of essential goods during major festivals, including Dashain, Tihar and Chhath.
According to the Department of Commerce, Supplies and Consumer Protection, the department deploys around 10 inspection teams daily in the valley. One or two teams respond immediately to consumer complaints, while the others inspect markets in designated areas.
The inspections involve the Department of Food Technology and Quality Control, Department of Livestock Services, district administration offices, local governments and relevant provincial agencies.
Department Director General Ritesh Kumar Shakya said inspections were focused on assessing demand, supply, stock management and product quality to prevent artificial shortages during the festive season.
The department is also monitoring sugar stocks and prices by collecting information from producers, suppliers and traders. Salt Trading Corporation is coordinating with retailers and major supermarket chains to sell sugar at government-fixed prices. Meanwhile, the Food Management and Trading Company is operating subsidised shops through around 190 outlets.
Amid complaints of rising meat prices, the department is coordinating with the Department of Livestock Services to monitor the prices and quality of meat products, particularly goat meat.
Shakya said determining fair prices for all consumer goods remained challenging because there was no uniform benchmark for products without government-fixed prices. Authorities assess price differences through comparative market studies and can impose fines of up to Rs 300,000 under the Consumer Protection Act.
The department said supplies of daily essentials remained generally adequate, but monitoring had been intensified amid rising festive demand and disruptions to major roads and northern border points caused by disasters.
Shakya urged consumers to check product quality and obtain bills when making purchases. Consumers can report fraud, artificial shortages and other market irregularities through the department’s hotline or the government’s Hello Sarkar grievance-handling mechanism.
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