After some traders were found selling bottled water above MRP (Maximum Retail Price), the government stepped in and fixed the price of the bottled water at a maximum of Rs. 16 per liter for Kathmandu Valley. For locations outside the Kathmandu Valley, the maximum retail price of a pet bottle of water has been fixed at Rs 20.
The Department of Commerce, Supplies and Consumer Protection (DoCSCP), on Monday, directed the traders concerned not to charge customers beyond the set price of the bottled water. In most cases, a one-liter bottle of water costs between Rs. 20-30.
“If the purified water sold in bottles and jars is charged higher than the mentioned price, then the sellers will be levied with a maximum punishment according to The Consumer Protection Act, 2075,” the notice reads.
Director General of the DoCSCP Mahesh Bhattarai said the Department will speed up the market inspection as there are also complaints that low-quality water bottles were being sold in the local market.
The DoCSCP has also fixed the price of a 20-liter water jar at Rs. 47 in Kathmandu Valley. The price for the 20-liter water jar is set at a maximum of Rs. 60 outside the Valley. Currently, retailers have been charging up to Rs 60 per jar of water in Kathmandu Valley.
