Market inspectors have still not intensified their market monitoring and the substandard regulators are easily finding ways into general consumers´ kitchen, exposing them to the risk of accidents. [break]
After repeated incidents of accidents caused by leakage of cooking gas, the government a few days ago had banned the sale of uncertified regulators and instructed commerce offices and designated market inspectors across the country to cease them from the market.
However, in Pokhara, substandard regulators are sold even in the utensil shops, and concerned traders say that the sale of inferior standard regulator is so high that they are even replacing standard certified regulators.
They told myrepublica.com that the consumers aware of the risk of substandard products hunt for genuine regulators with trade mark, but a large number of consumers are happy using the regulators that expose them to risks.
Traders said that the cheapest certified regulators available in Pokhara cost at least Rs 300, whereas substandard ones can be easily bought at Rs 200.
That is not all. Most of the retailers claim that the products that they are selling are of standard quality, and because large chunk of consumers rely on their words, dealers of certified regulators said they are finding it difficult to convince consumers.
“Mostly consumers judge quality with pricing. As a result, a large number of retailers are even charging as much as Rs 450 for a regulator to mislead consumers,” Rabindra Bajimaya of Bajimaya Store in Chipledhunga said. He even admitted that he himself sold uncertified regulators in the past and set higher prices to fool consumers.
Traders of standard regulators, meanwhile, suggest consumers not to rely on the words of sellers and look for the trade mark attached to the product. As Nepali standard bureau has not issued any standard certification, they said consumers must look for Indian Bureau of Standard Certification - the ISI mark -- in the regulator to be sure about its standard.
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