The anomaly came to light when a market monitoring team of Department of Commerce and Supply Management (DoCSM) monitored canteens at different ministries and departments in the country´s administrative headquarters on Monday. [break]
The team inspected canteens at Ministry of Forest and Land Conservation, National Planning Commission, Office of Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Energy, Ministry of Land Reform and Management and Nepal Army.
Hari Narayan Belbase, director of DoCSM, said the canteen at forest and land conservation ministry run by one Arjun Prasad Dhungana did not have agreement letter for operating the canteen. “The canteen was using four heaters of 2,000 watts each without paying electricity bills and adopting adequate security measures. It was also found selling unlabeled products,” added Balbase. “Also, it was not displaying price list.”
Belbase said the team found canteens at National Planning Commission and Office of Prime Minister and Council of Ministers operated by Mithu Thapa and Yam Bahadur Karki, respectively, in a very unhygienic condition. “The canteens also didn´t have fire extinguishers. They were also involved in electricity theft by using heaters of high capacity in an unauthorized manner,” he added.
Another canteen at Office of Prime Minister and Council of Ministers run by one Lila Bahadur Maharjan was also not baying energy bills. “It also didn´t have fire extinguisher,” said Belbase.
Similarly, Kanchan Chamena and Catering Services at the finance ministry was not maintaining proper hygiene.
According to Belbase, the team has directed owner of the canteen at the energy ministry to maintain hygiene and display menu board. It also asked the owner not to clean dishes inside the kitchen.
Similarly, Sunita Chamena Griha at the land reforms and management ministry was found using heaters in a risky way. “Though sub-meter at the canteen showed consumption of 13,407 units of electricity, it had not been cleared. The canteen was very dirty. It also didn´t have menu board and sign board,” he added.
Similarly, the canteen at a office of Nepal Army in Singhadurbar was found using electricity in an unauthorized way. Its kitchen was dirty and it was found selling unlabeled food items, according to Belbase.
“We have instructed owners of all the monitored canteens, except the ones at Ministry of Energy and Nepal Army, to submit proof of agreement letter and clearance of electricity bills at the DoCSM within seven days,” Belbase said, adding, “Many canteens have been instructed to display menu board and stop selling expired and unlabeled products.”
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