Commerce department collects over Rs 1 million in fines last week from unscrupulous traders

Kathmandu / Aug 15: The Department of Commerce, Supplies and Consumer Protection collected more than Rs 1 million in cash fines from traders on the charge of misconduct in the last one week. It is probably the largest amount of cash penalty that the market regulator submitted to the government treasury within a week’s time.

The department’s records show that in the one week time that ended on Friday, a total of Rs 1,055,000 was collected from various outlets in the Kathmandu Valley under the charge of violating the provisions of the Consumer Protection Act 2018. According to the department, many traders taking advantage of the ongoing threat of coronavirus have been manufacturing face masks without receiving government licenses while a number of other outlets were found carrying out transactions without using invoices.

Of the outlets that were grilled by the regulator, Alfa House and Banquet in Kathmandu was fined Rs 300,000, the largest of all. The banquet was found selling substandard food posing risk to the consumers’ health.

Likewise, Indo Nepal Food and Beverage, a bottled water producer in Suryabinayak-2, Bhaktapur, was slapped Rs 100,000 for failing to maintain hygiene of the product it sells. Kripa Pharmacy, a drug store in Madhyapur Thimi-4, faced a cash penalty of Rs 100,000 on the charge of not taking permission for online billings.

Among the businesses that paid an on-the-spot fine of Rs 50,000, was Purna Khadya Store, a grocery in Madhyapur Thimi-3. The shopkeeper was found not maintaining the price lists of the products. Shankar Kumar Gupta, Laxman Kaji Thapa Kshetri and Sarita Chaudhary, manufacturers of face masks in Kathmandu Metropolitan-32; Dangol Sanitary, a seller of construction materials in Mahalaxmi-1, Kathmandu and Shakti Clothing and Garment, a seller of readymade garments in Kathmandu Metropolitan-32 were fined similar amounts for operating their businesses without receiving licenses.

Sandesh Mineral Water in Budhanilkantha-7, Eshika Fruit Juice and Lassi Center in Kathmandu Metropolis-13 and Stuti Mero Mart Pvt Ltd in Kathmandu Metropolis-6 also faced cash fines of Rs 50,000 each for not abiding by the government rules.

The department slapped Nepal Kirana Pasal and Gas Store and Koshtik Pharmacy in Kathmandu Metropolis-6 with a cash fine of Rs 20,000 each for violating the norms of the Consumer Protection Act.

Public Mart Pvt Ltd, a grocery store in Budhanilkantha-10; Bhumika Store in Budhanilkantha-12; Soaltee Mode Veggie Center in Kathmandu Metropolitan-13 and Easy Multi Store in Bhaktapur Municipality-6 were fined Rs 10,000 each for failing to produce the purchase bills of the products they had been selling.

Similarly, Triyuga Pharma, a drug store in Bajrabarahi-10; Dem Fruits Center and SS Ayurveda in Kathmandu Metropolis-13 and Neelam Pharmacy in Karyabinayak-6, Lalitpur, were charged Rs 5,000 each in fines for similar charges. Groceries including Prity Food Concern in Kathmandu Metropolis-16 and Modern Store in Kathmandu-15 were also fined a similar amount each for violating the Consumer Protection Act.

Shera Traders, a hardware store in Madhyapur Thimi-3, was asked to be present with the purchase and sales bills within seven days at the department.