Local Administration Minister N.G. Pannir Selvam has warned of stringent action against those who sell substandard and expired food stuff at the Puducherry Bus Stand.
Replying to questions in the Assembly on Monday, Mr. Pannir Selvam said stringent action would be taken under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 against those who sell such food products.
A separate wing under the Excise Department has been functioning to check if shopkeepers were selling packaged food above the maximum retail price.
Admitting that private parties have been running municipal shops at cheaper rents, he said his department has been considering auctioning of those shops once in three years to earn more revenue .
Mr. Pannir Selvam also said there was no written complaint about sub-letting of those shops at higher rents at present.
Answering queries raised by AIADMK MLA Omsakthi Sekar on the mushrooming of cable television networks in Puducherry, Mr. Pannir Selvam said he was aware of the assurance of the government on examining the possibility of taking over all cable television networks. The government has been in the process of setting up a committee to examine the feasibility of taking over all cable television networks.
Mr. Sekar alleged that the cable television operators and multi system operators deliberately failed to pay taxes running to several crores of rupees.
Hence they should be taken over by the government without any delay.
