Kayenat Islam
Port Blair, March 17: Even as flagrant violation of MRP (Maximum Retail Price) has become rampant in different parts of these islands, the Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department remains lethargic in containing the violation. Almost every grocery store in the city and elsewhere charges an additional Rs 2/- on cold drinks and packed drinking water particularly trading near tourist spots and beaches, but the government agency has exhibited failure in reining in the violators as a stricter norm to stop overcharging remains far from ensured.
According to reports, charging above MRP on any product including transportation is an offence under the Central Law of Metrology Act provisions. Any retailer violating the law is liable to be slapped with a fine of Rs 2,000. Contrary to the rules, retailers justify the act of overcharging on claims that they spend extra money on storage, transportation etc notwithstanding government rules which specifically state that the distributor and retailers are responsible for the charges of refrigeration as the cost is already included in the MRP.
“What worries more for the consumers is that they even don’t know about the authority to be contacted to report such violations. They are forced to pay extra to the retail shopkeepers in the absence of strict norms to deal with such violation. In case, the consumer argue or threaten the retailers to approach the Consumer Court, they are laughed at by the shopkeepers,” say some consumer activists.
Recently a resident of Goal Ghar has sent a complaint letter to the Secretary of Civil Supplies attracting her attention towards probable MRP Tempering in Andamans. Pointing out towards a particular brand of Aata of a reputed company, the complainant said that the said Aata conts Rs. 36 in Mainland India in any retail shop but the same Aata in same packet, when reaches Andaman the MRP is changed to Rs. 46. She alleged that some local businessmen are illegally tempering MRP on various commodities. Sadly it is still now known what action has been taken in this regard by the Secretary of Civil Supplies. When Andaman Sheekha checked the rate of same Aata in a local grocery shop, it was Rs. 46 even today.
The Secretary, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, Smt Rashmi Krishnan said that the department is fully aware of the MRP violations being reported from different parts of these islands.
“Regular inspections are conducted to stop the illegal practice by retail shopkeepers. Recently 7-8 cases of overcharging was registered at Havelock and penalty of about Rs 40,000 was imposed on violators. Similar raids are also conducted in the city at regular intervals,” she said adding that plans are afoot to set up a dedicated Enforcement Unit at Port Blair to put a curb on such MRP violations.
One questions that will imposing fine on 7-8 shops only, that too in a remote Islands will be enough to control the menace of MRP Tempering and overcharging.
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