KATHMANDU, Sept 7: The government slapped hefty cash fines against unscrupulous traders in the first 50 days of the current fiscal year (FY) for market anomalies.
According to the Department of Commerce, Supplies and Consumer Protection (DoCSCP), it has contributed a total of Rs 8.065 million, collected as cash fines from business firms involved in market manipulations, to the government revenue in around one and a half months of FY 2025/26. The department collected fines from 136 firms out of a total of 650 inspected during the review period.
“The department has coordinated with concerned government agencies to check the selling of substandard foods, adulteration and chemical contaminations in edibles including egg, dairy products, meat, vegetables, fruits and water, among others,” said Roshan Gyawali, director general of the DoCSCP, speaking at a press meet on Sunday.
A number of firms that cheated consumers refuse to pay cash fin...
During the review period, the DoCSCP instructed 220 business outlets to appear with necessary documents for clarifications at the department. Likewise, 304 firms were asked to adopt corrective measures suggested by the department.
According to Gyawali, they took actions against the firms who breached the government’s rules of market regulations.
Meanwhile, the DoCSCP says it has started festivals-targeted market monitoring. Gyawali claimed that they did not find any artificial price hikes related to food items.
The department assured that there would not be any shortage of food items during the upcoming festivals. Gyawali said the department is also focused on market monitoring of apparels, which are among the largely saleable items during the festive season.
