Jaipur: Massive crackdown on hoarding of food items

JAIPUR: A joint team of officials of food and legal metrology departments on Monday led by district supplies officers (DSOs) investigated 140 complaints received against profiteering, overpricing and black-marketing of essential commodities.
While cases were registered against six retailers during the inspection, a penalty of Rs 18,000 was imposed on four traders for overpricing.
Consumer affairs department secretary Naveen Jain said 53 inspections were conducted across the state under Legal Metrology Rules, 2011. “After the investigation, cases were registered against six traders for irregularities in sale of essential commodities. Penalty of Rs 18,000 was imposed on the traders in four cases. Items like chana dal, mustard oil, soap etc. were being sold by the traders at a price higher than the prescribed MRP,” said Jain.
“A total fine of Rs 7,500 was imposed on the recovery of Oswal soap from Malakhera tehsil in Alwar, pulses and edible oil from Dungargarh in Bikaner. A fine of Rs 5,000 was imposed on a trader in Dungarpur district for charging more than MRP on Amul milk,” he added.
The secretary said all complaints related to overpricing, profiteering and black-marketing were received on the state consumer helpline toll-free number 1800-180-6030. “During the ‘public discipline fortnight’, the district collectors should constitute a joint team of food department, legal metrology, police and food safety officers to monitor the supply of essential commodities and their pricing,” said Jain.
“Instructions have been issued to the legal metrology officers to inspect minimum 3 grocery/departmental stores daily under the supervision of DSOs,” he added. “District collectors have been directed to get price list of the open food items being distributed by the retailer / grocery store pasted on the wall so that consumers can purchase essential commodities at right value,” he added.