Consumers body seeks enforcement of metrology rules

Special Correspondent

SILCHAR, Sept10: In view of the questioble methods adopted by the wholesale and retail dealers in weighing the goods and various consumer items and in the process deceiving the customers. Grahak Suraksha Samiti (GSS) took up the matter with the S Viswathan, IAS, Deputy Commissioner of Cachar, on Wednesday. It was drawn to his notice that the sellers in the market are virtually cheating the consumers by taking recourse to under-weights.

 Biplob Kumar Goswami, general secretary of the Samiti, gave a graphic account of how the markets of the town have been flouting uniform weights and measures. This he said is in gross violation of the Assam Legal Metrology (Enforcement) Rules, 2011. He pressed for the enforcement of 21 (1) clause of 2011 rules to ensure that the consumers are in no way cheated. The Deputy Commissioner assured that he would take necessary steps in this regard to regulate the market.

 The Deputy Commissioner in the meantime has sought a report from the Legal Metrology Department to know the veracity of the complaint of GSS. Members of the Samiti later on met the vice-chairperson of Silchar Municipal Board in the absence of the chairman. They impressed upon her to investigate in what way and how the traders are fleecing the consumers by under-weights by weighing the quantity of vegetables, fish and mutton. The vice-chairperson pointed out that she would look into the anomalies and in consultation with the chairman make every effort to remove them.

 In this connection it is to be noted that in order to provide a coherent scheme and uniform standards of weights and measures, the first Act mely Standards of W and M Act, 1956 was ected based on metric system and intertiol system of units recognized by Intertiol Organization of Legal Metrology (OIML).

With regard to keep pace with rapid advances made in the field of science and technology all over the world, General Conference on Weights and Measures (CGPM) evolved a practical system of units known as SI units to facilitate working.

 It includes seven base units, two supplementary units and about 50 devised units emated from six primary units established by 1956 Act. A legislation for ectment by member countries adopting metric convention was accepted. India is one of the members of OIML.