Birgunj traders fleecing consumers

BIRGUNJ, Nov 24: Traders in Birgunj have been found to be selling essential commodities for as much as four fold the cost prices stated in the customs declaration forms.



Differences between import prices and actual market prices of the food commodities have been found excessively high in the commercial hub of the country as the traders undervalue import prices to evade duty.[break]



Price of Rahar pulses is set at Rs 130 per kg in the market, far higher than Rs 40 per kg which is declared by traders at the customs point.



Lentil, another popular pulse, is selling for Rs 95 per kg in the market where as traders are found to have declared the price in the customs at Rs 37 per kg.

As per the customs declaration by traders, mass pulse and grams were imported for Rs 40 and Rs 37 per kg respectively.



However, mass pulse and grams have been priced at Rs 100 and Rs 130 per kg in the market respectively.



Similarly, prices of Kabuli grams which was imported at Rs 40 per kg, is selling for Rs 140 per kg in Birgunj.



Mustard oil and sunflower oil which were imported for Rs 101 per liter each are priced at Rs 184 and Rs 190 per kg respectively.



Traders are charging Rs 70 per kg for white pea which is imported from Russia and Ukraine at Rs 39 per kg.



Ram Hari Aryal, chief of Birgunj Customs Office, said the price of the imported commodities for the purpose of customs duty has been fixed as per the bills submitted by traders and the guidelines set by the Department of Customs.



According to Black Marketeering and Some Social Offence and Punishment Act, making a profit of over 20 percent is regarded as black marketeering.

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