April 13: Retailers have been found charging customers arbitrarily for vegetables. The retailers in Kalimat and Balkhu areas have been allegedly selling vegetables at double the prices than that fixed by the Kalimati Fruits and Vegetables Market.

Stakeholders say that that the customers are being charged higher prices for vegetables due to the negligence shown by the government authorities in market monitoring. Traders are charging recklessly for almost all green vegetables such as cauliflower, cucumber, carrot, broccoli, lady’s finger, tomato among others.

According to the price list fixed by the Kalimati Fruits and Vegetables Market on April 12, cauliflower costs Rs 50 per kg but it cost Rs 80-Rs 90 in the retail market. Local cucumber costs Rs 90 per kg in the wholesale market while it cost Rs 110 in the retail market. 

Likewise, broccoli costs Rs 90 in the wholesale market and Rs 130 in the retail market. Carrot that costs Rs 50 per kg at the wholesale market is being sold for Rs 80 per kg in the retail market. Retailers are charging Rs 150 per kg for lady’s finger which is Rs 50 higher than the price set by the wholesale market.

Retail markets located in Kirtipur, Kalanki, Kuleshwor, Kalimati, Lagankhel and other places are charging customers unreasonably. According to Gita Prasad Acharya, president of the Kalimati Fruits and Vegetables Market Entrepreneurs Committee, there has been no problem in importing vegetables from India and neighboring districts. So it is not justifiable to hike the prices of vegetables in the retail market.

Mahav Timilsina, president of Consumer Rights Research Forum said they have sought attention of the Department of Commerce, Supplies and Consumer Protection in this regard. He said that the government authority has not taken any action in monitoring of the market so the retailers have got the opportunity to increase the prices arbitrarily. Stakeholders have demanded not only the department but also the local government to intervene in market monitoring in the days to come.