The Nepal Department of Commerce, Supply and Consumer Protection (DoCSCP) has decided to sell onions that were seized from several vegetable markets at subsidised rate. The department had earlier seized the onions from the traders who were hiding them, creating an artificial shortage of the kitchen staple to hike prices.
Ravindra Acharya, spokesperson for DoCSCP, said the Food Management and Trading Company Ltd (FMTCL) will sell the onions from its outlets: “A joint meeting held at the department on Tuesday among officials of DoCSCP, FMTCL and District Administration Office, Kathmandu has decided to sell the onions. We had seized a total of 12,000 kg of onions from Kalimati and Balkhu Fruits and Vegetables Markets and now we are going to sell it at no more than Rs 60 per kg.”
While the process of registering the cases against the errant traders is ongoing, the government has decided to sell the onions as it might start to decay, he added.
On September 16, Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supply Lekhraj Bhatta had inspected Kalimati and Balkhu Fruits and Vegetables Markets along with the DoCSCP and Nepal Police. The inspection team had seized around 250 sacks of onions from the vegetable markets. Likewise, the Nepal Police had also taken control of a van that was being used to hide sacks of onions from the Balkhu market.
As reported on thehimalayantimes.com¸ the department had taken action against seven traders that day.
[ Rs100 = €0,73 ]
