Jumla Steps Up Festive Market Raids and Secures Salt Reserves

Jumla district authorities have intensified market surveillance to eliminate inedible goods and secured food reserves ahead of the upcoming Dashain and Tihar festive rush. Joint inspection teams have destroyed substandard food items across dozens of shops, while state supply depots confirmed adequate salt stocks across the mountainous district.

According to a report by Nagarik News, the Food Technology and Quality Control Division Office Jumla, alongside the District Administration Office, conducted monitoring drives covering 25 retail outlets over three days in Chandannath Municipality. Inspecting under the provisions of the Food Hygiene and Quality Act, 2024 (2081 BS), regulators sought to protect consumer health amid surging holiday shopping.

Subas Timilsina, chief of the division office, stated that inspectors examined 16 shops across Wards 4 and 5 on Monday and Tuesday, seizing and destroying substandard goods valued at Rs 18,550. Violations included expired dairy products, spoiled beverages, confectionery past shelf life, poor shop hygiene, and the use of banned artificial coloring in potato chops. On Wednesday, teams monitored nine more stores around the bus park area in Chandannath Ward 6, confiscating and destroying unfit items worth Rs 34,160. The joint inspection team was coordinated by Assistant Chief District Officer Min Bahadur Rawal, with participation from tax and industry officials.

In parallel to consumer market raids, state supply authorities moved to ensure sufficient supplies of essential daily staples. The Salt Trading Corporation branch office in Jumla reported holding a stock of 1,049 quintals of salt to avert festival shortages, as reported by Ratopati and Lokaantar.

Muni Datta Budha, head of the Salt Trading Corporation branch office in Jumla, noted that the central depot started with 1,817 quintals. Sales reached 768 quintals by September 30 (Ashwin 14), leaving 1,049 quintals in reserve, according to Nagarik News. Budha said salt continues to reach Sinja and Hima rural municipalities through the Narakot depot, while the Guthichaur depot serves Kanakasundari Rural Municipality, with supplies dispatched from the Khalanga district headquarters based on local demand.

Because the central office of the Salt Trading Corporation has not fixed a specific annual quota for Jumla's three depots this fiscal year, the local branch has formally requisitioned extra consignments from Nepalgunj to forestall unexpected supply disruptions. Several local governments in Jumla have also begun purchasing salt directly from the headquarters to distribute through ward offices.