JORHAT, April 23 - The Majuli district administration on Monday launched a drive in the Brahmaputra river island to prevent fish and vegetable vendors from selling items at exorbitant prices and duping customers by using tampered weighing devices, besides checking the quality of food items that were offered for sale.
Majuli Deputy Commissioner Debaprasad Misra told The Assam Tribune that in view of public complaints received by the district administration regarding sharp rise in prices of fish and vegetables in the market in recent times and using unfair weighing instruments by a section of vendors, he directed the officials of the Food and Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department, besides Food Safety Branch of the Health Department along with the Legal Metrology Department to conduct a drive across the island.
Misra said the officials had been asked to inquire about the sudden manifold increase in prices of fish and vegetables and also to inform the sellers to maintain marginal profit.
The DC said that complaints regarding not maintaining uniformity of prices in the markets of Majuli and selling fish that were not suitable for human consumption were also received.
Misra said he had asked the departments concerned to carry out the drive across the island and submit a report on the matter to him along with action taken provided any unscrupulous acts by the vendors were detected.
The DC said the district administration will take whatever legal action is required as per provisions of law and rules related to food safety, consumer protection and against cheating by way of using faulty weight or measuring instruments.
Meanwhile, a joint team of Food and Civil Supplies, Consumer Affairs Department and Food Safety Branch of the Health Department since afternoon on Monday visited the markets at Kamalabari and Balisapori areas of the Brahmaputra island and will continue the inspection in other areas as well.
Sub Inspectors Rajib Moran and Ajit Kumar Sonowal of the Food and Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department, besides Food Safety Officer Samiran Baruah led the team. The Legal Metrology Department too will start its drive, a district administration source stated.
It may be mentioned here that Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal represents the Majuli Assembly seat.
