“The Ministry of Laws and Justice has given consent for the content of the gazette drafted by us and we are issuing a gazette on Monday to formally enforce the MRP,” Deepak Subedi, joint secretary at the Ministry of Commerce and Supplies (MoCS) told Republica.[break]
As per the Essential Goods Control Act, the government had introduced the MRP in the highly consumable goods in consultation with stakeholders including traders.
Subedi said the government will continue the monitoring of market so as to ensure that the MRPs are effectively implemented in the days ahead.
“We have not only fixed the MRPs but also set out the plan to intensify the monitoring of markets to minimize the cases of black marketeering. And, the gazette will pave the way for the government to review the MRPs every 15 days in consultation with traders,” said Subedi.
As per the existing laws, those defying the MRPs will have to face up to five years in prison.
Keeping in view the possible black marketeering of consumable goods during the coming festivals, the government had fixed (MRPs) for the food items, bring down their prices by Rs 1 to 13 per kg.
A joint meeting chaired by Chief Secretary Lila Mani Poudel on Thursday in the presence of high ranking officials of the Ministry of Commerce and Supplies (MoCS), home ministry, agriculture ministry and representatives from private sector fixed the MRPs of four varieties of rice and two varieties each from mas pulse, lentil and mung pulses.
Similarly, MRP for gram, white pea, bean, wheat flour refined flour and all kinds of edible oils have also been fixed.
As per the government decision, the MRP of general Sona Mansuli has been fixed at Rs 36, steamed Sona Mansuli Rs 46, General Jeera Masino Rs 55, steamed jeera Masino Rs 60 per kg, mas pulse (made from medium-sized grain) Rs 96, and mas pulse ( made from big-sized grain) at Rs 105.
Similarly lentil (made from medium-sized grain) has been price at Rs 93, lentil (with big-sized grain) Rs 102 per kg, mung pulse (made from medium-sized grain) Rs 117, mung pulses (made from big-sized grain) Rs 127, gram Rs 107, white pea Rs 65, bean Rs 95 per kg, wheat flour Rs 31 and refined at Rs 36 per kg.
However, the government has urged traders to give two percent discount on the prevailing prices of all kinds of edible oils available in the market.
Similarly Salt Trading Corporation (STC) has been assigned to fix the MRP of salt and sugar at the earliest.
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