Festival market monitoring: action taken in Kalimati, Dhankuta and Changunarayan

With festivals approaching, market monitoring has intensified in Kathmandu, Dhankuta and Bhaktapur.

When a joint team from Kathmandu Metropolitan City and the Department of Food Technology and Quality Control reached the Kuleshwar-Kalimati area, some grocery traders shut their shutters and fled. Metropolitan food technologist Anil Basnet said that while the team was inspecting one shop, a trader across the street closed his shop and walked away. He said no one could escape legal liability simply by fleeing a monitoring drive.

The inspection found problems with cleanliness, improper storage of food items and expired goods in shops. The team has directed traders to comply with food hygiene and safety standards.

In Pakhribas, Dhankuta, a dozen hotels and shops were inspected and expired rice, biscuits, spices and beverages were seized and destroyed. Pushpa Lal Dhamala, administrative officer at the District Administration Office, Dhankuta, said shops have been directed to display price lists, and those operating in violation of standards have been told to make corrections.

Meanwhile, the Department of Commerce, Supply and Consumer Protection on Thursday fined the Old Town Restaurant in Changunarayan 15,000 rupees and Bastakoti Grocery Store 5,000 rupees. Letters have been sent to four other firms in Kathmandu and Bhaktapur asking them to appear before the department with documents.