KATHMANDU, Sept 28: Parliamentarians have suggested the government to remain aware and vigilant against exorbitant inflation and black marketing in the daily consumable items including sugar as the major festivals such as Dashain and Tihar were nearby.

The recent surge in prices of essential goods including potato and onion has left consumers grappling with financial strain and uncertainty. Businessmen, under the pretext of the 13 percent value-added tax (VAT) that the government has announced to impose on potatoes and onions starting mid-July, have disproportionately inflated prices, placing an undue burden on the average citizen.

KATHMANDU, Oct 2: Experts and stakeholders concerned have said consumers themselves should be more aware to curb black marketing in the wake of festivals. Market fraud including adulteration of foods and irregularities are reported in the media of late.

KATHMANDU, Sept 26: Food Management and Trading Company (FMTC) has been selling away the onions seized from the black marketers in the Kathmandu Valley some two weeks ago at much cheaper price.

KATHMANDU, Sept 19: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has attributed the ongoing threat of pandemic as the main hindrance to achieve the targeted improvement in the number of economic indicators.

KATHMANDU, April 28: The Department of Commerce, Supplies and Consumer Protection has slapped a fine of Rs 300,000 on Bhatbhateni Supermarket for selling daily essentials at prices higher than the stated prices of the goods.

KATHMANDU, April 10: A day after the Honorary Consul of Kyrgyzstan to Nepal, Sulav Agrawal, was found misusing his position and privileges, the government has decided to withdraw the recognition granted to him as honorary consul and suspend various special privileges granted to all honorary consuls including the use of blue number plates and flags in official vehicles with immediate effect.

KATHMANDU, April 9: Sulav Agrawal, who was arrested on Tuesday on a charge of black marketing in thermal guns, has been found involved in a number of financial irregularities related to dedicated feeders and in fake VAT invoicing.

KATHMANDU, April 9: The District Administration Office Kathmandu has remanded Sulav Agrawal, vice chairman of Shanker Group, in custody for seven days for investigations into his alleged involvement in black marketing in thermal scanners.

KATHMANDU, April 8: District Administration Office Kathmandu has permitted the police to keep Shanker Group vice chairperson Sulav Agrawal in custody for another seven days for further investigation.

KATHMANDU, April 8: At a time when there has been an acute shortage of medical supplies, a high-profile industrialist was arrested here Tuesday on the charge of black marketing in thermal scanners.

KATHMANDU, April 7: Vice chairperson of Shanker Group Sulav Agrawal was arrested on Tuesday on the charge of black marketing China-made thermal guns which are widely used to prevent the coronavirus.

By all means, we are living through the most dangerous times in history since the World War II. Countries are being ravaged by the disease, economies are falling apart, people are dying.  Even the countries with supposedly the best health systems—America, Germany, France, UK, for example— are failing to save their citizens. Italy alone lost over 700 people on Sunday. The world is in panic. In Nepal, we do not have resources needed to put things in place.  Despite this, the government has taken some of the measures to keep the country and people safe from the contagion of the pandemic.

An email from an editor of one of the leading French dailies who cancelled her trip to Nepal due to the threat of coronavirus made me unhappy. She was going to visit Nepal for a few weeks and cover some travel related news. She said she had to cancel in response to Nepal government’s decision to ban ‘on arrival visa’ to French nationals.

KATHMANDU, March 22: Government has warned of taking stricter action against if anyone is found to have been involved in black marketing and hoarding.

KATHMANDU, March 19: A numbers of gasoline sellers have been found to be involved in the black marketing of the petroleum products taking undue advantage of soaring demand for essentials amid ongoing threat of  COVID-19 and weak government monitoring.

KATHMANDU, March 14: Police on Saturday arrested eight persons on the charge of their involvement in black marketing of face masks.

KATHMANDU, Sept 9: The government has operated a fair price outlet in Kathmandu targeting major Nepali festivals including Dashain, Tihar and Chhath from Monday.

KATHMANDU, Sept 6: Department of Commerce, Supply and Consumer Protection is preparing to operate fair price shops from September 9 targeting the major Nepali festivals, namely Dashain, Tihar and Chhath.

It’s that time of the year again. Dashain is in the air and so are all of the season’s accompaniments – a general sense of anticipation and indolence among the working populace, a chilly bite in the air during the morning and evenings, people going about planning their travels and shopping duties and last, but certainly not the least, our government agencies conducting their annual market monitoring farce.