JUMLA, Oct 5: The Dashain festival is just around the corner and demands for all types of commodities have soared up. As usual, dealers are making attempts to take advantage of the situation by selling outdated products. There have been numerous complaints against such incidents.
In an effort to crack down on such practice, the local administration of Chandannath Municipality in Jumla has tightened monitoring of goods being sold to consumers. They are strictly monitoring sellers and dealers in order to prevent sales of expired products to customers. According to Apsara Devi Neupane, deputy chief of Chandannath, the customers, too, have made complaints that sellers are surcharging them.“We are making efforts to control all these malpractices to protect the rights of consumers,” said Neupane. “We would leave no stone unturned to ensure that consumers are not sold expired products, nor are they surcharged.”The administration has recently monitored Sagun Trades, Luna Store and Supplier, Vision General Store, Lumbini Trades Center, Lumbini Enterprises along with other wholesale dealers.
DMC intensifies market monitoring ahead of festivals
The monitoring team found that some products did not have price tags on them, with the intention to surcharge the customers. Likewise, it was found that the price of consumer goods vary in different shops, according to Assistant Chief District Officer Tek Bahadur Budathapa.“We are monitoring the market to fight the black market,” he said.
According to deputy chief Nepane, actions would be taken against sellers if they sell expired products and fail to meet the regulatory criteria. “Anyone involved in playing with the health of consumers and surcharging them would be fined. The sellers themselves have to take the responsibility of health hazards caused by expired products,” she said.
