Mysuru: Based on Food and Civil Supplies Minister U T Khader’s direction, the District Legal Metrology department conducted a two-day special drive to curb the sale of packaged drinking water and cool drinks at inflated prices. During the raid, the officials raided 52 places including malls, hotels and booked nearly 20 cases.
According to the latest legal metrology Packaged Commodities Rules (PCR) amended in 2016 by the Union Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Ministry, if anyone is found taking more than MRP; for the first time one needs to pay Rs 2000 fine but if found repeatedly violating the rules, there is a provision of not only collecting more fine but also six months’ imprisonment.
District legal metrology department officials led by Assistant Controller Sarala Nair during their two-day drive, visited few multiplexes, hotels, restaurants, malls and bus stand and found that most of these places were selling bottled packaged drinking water and cold drinks charging more than the maximum retail price. For instance, if a litre of bottled water of Rs 20 MRP was being sold at Rs 40 and in some outlets even Rs 70. Surprisingly J P Fortune Palace was found supplying water bottle for MRP and in some instances less than the MRP.
Sarala Nair, Assistant Controller, Legal and Metrology department said, “Following direction from our minister we conducted this raid. We conducted 52 inspections and booked nearly 20 cases for charging more than MRP. When we visited Hotel Southern Star they were found selling one litre drinking water for Rs 30 instead of MRP Rs 20. To everyone’s surprise at Radisson Blue was found charging Rs 70. The minimum penalty is Rs 2000. If they commit mistake for the second time it will be a non-compoundable offence and case will be dealt in the court. If people come across anybody selling the commodity for prices exceeding MRP, they may contact 0821-2479107.”
Legal Metrology Directorate, New Delhi has directed all the state governments to plug this unfair trade practice by intensifying the drives. Based on Food and Civil Supplies Minister U T Khader, Legal Metrology department had launched the drive on May 3 and 4.
