BENGALURU: The Department of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs is likely to introduce independent weighing machines at malls and supermarkets so that consumers can weigh the products they have purchased.
Announcing this at a press conference on Tuesday, Minister U T Khader said this measure will ensure that consumers are not cheated. “The equipment and space will be provided by the stores themselves. But someone from the department will operate this machine. Anyone who suspects they have been cheated can avail this facility. This will not only solve the problem of manufacturers pushing products of lower weight than specified, it will also cut down on irregularities that are taking place in some places,” he said.
The Department has also issued an order to this effect and this measure is expected to be implemented shortly. Khader also said that the government is considering the idea of privatising the Weights and Measures division and talks are on with senior ministers about this proposal.
No salt shortage
Khader also asserted that there is no shortage of salt. Rumours were spread after a shop in Kalaburagi started selling it at a higher price after losing a bag of salt. Some other shops were also found to be selling salt at a higher price and these shops have been issued notice, according to the minister. No other problems had been noticed since, he added.
Speaking about demonetisation, the minister warned people with BPL cards not to deposit money from others into their accounts. “The BPL cards are linked to the Aadhaar cards, so we will know if extra money is found in the accounts. If someone agrees to deposit money into their accounts on someone else’s behalf, then they are in danger of losing all subsidies and benefits they are availing from the government,” he warned.