Date:19/04/2005 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2005/04/19/stories/2005041901501700.htm

Back Drive to enforce weights and measures norms

Our Bureau

Hyderabad , April 18

CONSUMERS, who feel that they are not getting the right quantity and quality of products bought in the markets, can assert their rights and get redressal from the Department of Legal Metrology (Weights and Measures), which is upbeat on its performance of late.

Entrusted with protecting consumer interests by way of enforcement of standards of weights and measures, the Department has crossed its fixed targets for the fiscal 2004-05, by a margin.

It has earned Rs 7.93 crore against a target of Rs 6.08 crore with respect to stamping fee. In the case of collection of compounding fee, the Department's efforts fetched Rs 5.13 crore against a target of Rs 4.69 crore, the Controller, Legal Metrology, Capt K.V. Reddy said in a press release.

In its drive to enforce standards the Metrology Department has registered 799 cases against petrol pumps, 2,132 on fair price shops, 4,464 on iron and hardware shops and 16,801 on packaged commodities, including essential and industrial products.

Along with enforcement, the Department has also undertaken awareness programmes. It has done courses in market yards, shandies along with exhibitions, which highlight the malpractices resorted to by unscrupulous traders.

In a novel method, it has involved high school students to conduct surveys in their villages to collect data and educate the rural consumers. One school in each of the 1,104 mandals in the State is being covered.