KATHMANDU, Oct 1: Stakeholders have called the on local administration of Kathmandu to take strict action against all those involved in market irregularities.

Speaking at an interaction on 'Role of the Government to Control Market irregularities' in Kathmandu on Sunday, Chairperson of Industry and Commerce, and Labor and Consumer Welfare Committee of parliament urged the concerned authorities to take strict action all those involved in black-marketing and arbitrary pricing of goods and services. “Although market monitoring activities are going on, irregularities still exist in the market," he added. "Wrongdoers should be brought to book and tried in the court of law so that others do not commit similar mistakes."

Chief District Officer of Kathmandu, Ram Prashad Acharya, said that the local administration has already stepped up measures to control ill practices in the market keeping in view the upcoming festive season. "We are increasing frequency of market monitoring and conducting lab test of food samples that are highly in demand during Dashain, Tihar and Chhath festivals," he said, adding that market inspection will focus more on commodities like rice, pulses, vegetables, fresh meat, dairy products, edible oil, bottled water, sweets, and liquors, among others.

"We have received reports that some clothing stores are selling damaged clothes in the name of stock clearance. Similarly, it has come to our notice that some stores are selling counterfeit goods," Acharya said, adding that needful action will be taken against all those involved in such practices.

Acharya added that plainclothes policemen have been deputed in ticket counters to make sure that people, booking bus tickets for the festival, are not cheated.

Superintendent of Police at Metropolitan Police Office, Kathmandu, said that 3,535 policemen have been deployed at 67 places where movement of people is high.

Prem Lal Maharjan, president of National Consumers Forum, said Dashain-Tihar celebration was becoming expensive very people with passing year. "Transport fares have been increased haphazardly. Traders are fixing price of goods and services in an arbitrary manner. Prices will increase further in the lack of effective market inspection mechanism of the government," he said, accusing the government of reviving the cartel of transporters.

He also said that the government has failed to regulate the price of sugar in the market. "The factory gate price of sugar is Rs 57 per kg. But consumers are being forced to pay Rs 75-80 per kg," he added.

 
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