Quality watchdog cites 13 cement and steel factories for violations
The Nepal Bureau of Standards and Metrology has released its report for the first half of the current fiscal year. A worker prepares to carry a sack of cement on his back. Post file photo.
The government's product quality watchdog cited 13 cement, iron and steel factories for cheating consumers by producing and selling substandard products.
According to the report of the Nepal Bureau of Standards and Metrology for the first half of the current fiscal year, the products of Shree MJP Cement, Goenka Cement, Sarbottam Cement, Brij Cement, Shree Hongshi Shivam Cement, United Cement, Shalimar Cement and Reliance Supertech Cement do not meet quality standards.
Shree Bageshwari Iron and Steel, Ambe Steels, Godavari Steels, Goenka Steels and Ashok Steel were also cited for the poor quality of their products.
The quality watchdog said Shree MJP Cement and Hongshi Shivam Cement had been named during last year’s inspection too.
Hongshi Shivam Cement, Nawalparasi was named over setting time issues. According to the report, the initial setting time of concrete, the time when the cement paste starts hardening, should be 45 minutes; but its ordinary Portland cement was found to be setting in 30 minutes, the report shows. The bureau has asked the company to furnish a clarification in 15 days.
The insoluble residue level of the Portland pozzolana cement produced by Shree MJP Cement of Kapilvastu was found to be 29 percent in violation of Nepal Standard 385. The bureau has ordered the cement company to recall its entire batch produced on July 22, 2019. It has been asked to submit a clarification.
According to the report, the compressive strength of the Portland slag cement produced by Goenka Cement of Rupandehi was measured at 14 Mpa against 16 Mpa max as per Nepal Standard 384. The company has been asked to submit a clarification.
The cement produced by Brij Cement of Rupandehi was found to have a compressive strength 21 Mpa when it should be 22 Mpa. The company has been given 15 days to submit a clarification.
The compressive strength of the cement produced by Shalimar Cement of Bara was recorded at 15 Mpa when it should be 16 Mpa. The cement had a magnesium oxide level of 6.7 percent which should be 6 percent maximum. The company has been given 15 days to submit a clarification.
The Dunlop PSC cement of Reliance Supertech Cement, Bara was found to have a compressive strength of 14 Mpa after a sample test of three days. The company was asked to submit a clarification within 15 days.
Ambe Steels, Rupandehi has been cited for selling 7 mm steel without taking Nepal Standard approval.
The bureau said a bend test of the products of Goenka Steels, Rupandehi showed they fell short of Nepal Standard 191. The steel bars produced by Ashok Steel of Bara had elongation of 11.67 percent when it should be 12 percent.
Bishwo Babu Padasaini, director general of the Nepal Bureau of Standards and Metrology, said improvements had been seen in cement manufacturing companies compared to previous years. “We expect continuous improvement; and for that, inspection needs to be done in a strong way,” he said.
There is still lack of a well-equipped lab and manpower while the number of factories has risen; and as a result, conducting market inspections on a regular basis is difficult, he added.
Dhurba Thapa, president of the Cement Manufacturers Association of Nepal, said that having a high chemical level was not a problem, but it should not be below the specified level.
Krishana Prasain is a business reporter for The Kathmandu Post covering markets. Before joining The Kathmandu Post in 2018, she spent 3 years in New Business Age magazine covering business.
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