Consumers body appeal against price hike
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 13, 2012:
The District Voluntary Consumers' Organisation, Tamenglong has appealed to all the shopkeepers including oil pump operators of Tamenglong district headquarters to stop the practice of fixing prices of goods at their own whim and fancy.
Talking with TSE, District Voluntary Consumers' Organisation, Tamenglong vice-chairman Geiningam Kamsuan said that shopkeepers and agents have been selling essential commodities including rice and dal at prices much higher than their MRPs and prices fixed by the CAF&PD Department.
Local variety of rice (Meitei Cheng) is available at Rs 20 per Kg at Imphal but its price jumps to Rs 35 at Tamenglong.
Prices of all other commodities are abnormally high at Tamenglong with dal costing Rs 50 per Kg, cooking oil Rs 120 per litre, kerosene Rs 150 per litre and petrol Rs 80 per litre.
This petrol is not pure but adulterated and all the oil-pumps of the district have been selling this adulterated petrol, said Geiningam Kamsuan.
Likewise, pharmacies have also been selling drugs at prices much higher than their MRPs.
Saying that Tamenglong district has not recovered from the adverse impacts of bamboo flowering and the resultant Mautam besides being one of the most backward district of Manipur, Geiningam Kamsuan appealed to all the shopkeepers to give up their unscrupulous practices which are only adding salt to the already wounded, impoverished villagers.
Informing that some shops have been selling expired goods, he said that their organisation would soon launch a drive such unethical practice.
The District Voluntary Consumers' Organisation is functioning under the Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum (District Forum) which has its head-office at Sangaiprou.
There are provisions in the Consumer Protection Act 1986 under which those found selling goods at inflated prices, selling adulterated and expired goods can be fined or imprisoned or both.
In case the shopkeepers and oil-pump operators of Tamenglong district refuse to mend their ways at their earliest, necessary action would be initiated, Geiningam Kamsuan added.