Market monitoring to be stricter in Tihar

Department of Food Technology and Quality Control and Ministry of Commerce and Supplies are going to intensify market monitoring in the Kathmandu valley before Tihar – one of the national festivals – next week.

They will be keeping hawk's eye on production facilities and sweet shops apart from fruit-stores and dried fruits stores.

The department has started inspecting at least nine sweet shops daily in the valley by deploying three teams, the department informed, adding that incidences of adulteration in sweets have been witnessed during Tihar when demands for sweets peak.

"We will increase monitoring to check adulteration and sale of substandard products,” spokesperson of the department Pramod Koirala said, adding that selling stale sweets, using inedible colours and chemical, and using substandard oil and ghee will be penalised.

Likewise, the department will also monitor the labels, hygiene of production facilities and storage.

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister’s Office has also shown serious concern about the market regulation during the Tihar and Chhath festivals and Constituent Assembly (CA) election.

Secretary at the office Krishna Hari Baskota has directed the authorities to ensure the smooth supply of essential goods and inspect the market effectively to maintain quality supply.

Baskota has directed the department to regularly monitor highway eateries that have been blamed for failing in maintaining hygiene.