The Civil Supplies Department and the Legal Metrology Department have started cracking the whip on hoarders and black marketeers after complaints about fleecing customers during this unprecedented crisis caused by flooding cropped up from various parts of the district.
The Civil Supplies Department launched a series of raids at taluk supply offices level while the Legal Metrology Department deployed two special squads to monitor the prices of packaged commodities.
“We received at least three specific complaints from Padamugal, Vypeen and Thrikkakara. While the first two complaints were regarding overpricing of vegetables, a complaint against a supermarket at Thrikkakara opposite the Civil Station was regarding the overpricing of groceries, especially rice. We took into custody excess rice for the purchase of which there was no documentary evidence,” said Benny Joseph, District Civil Supplies Officer.
‘Matta’ rice priced in the range between ₹42 and ₹45 was being sold at ₹60, which was even more than the price of export quality rice. The Civil Supplies Department will impose steep penalties on the offenders while a case will be registered in the case of the stock found without proper documentary evidence.
In another case, vegetables sold for exorbitant prices were seized by the district administration and moved to its collection centre meant for distributing supplies to relief camps. Pulses and even basic items such as green chilly were found sold for thrice the normal price.
Inspections of Legal Metrology Department squads were aimed at ensuring that commodities like packaged drinking water, bread, etc. were not sold over and above the minimum retail price. “Despite the limited manpower and transportation hurdles, we inspected all possible shops across the district. Apart from checking the prices, we also verified documents. Cases of irregularities in the pricing of non-packaged commodities were handed over to the Civil Supplies Department since such cases are beyond our purview,” said R. Rammohan, Deputy Controller, Legal Metrology Department, Central Zone.
The department has deployed at least a squad in every district though many of its officers were hit by the flood. Though several complaints were raised through the social media, many of them were found to be fake. The squads will be on the field in the coming days as well.
