Overcharging for Drinking Water will Land Seller in Jail – U T Khader
Mangaluru: “Drinking water is very much essential. We have received complaints that excess rate has been charged for drinking water. We have ordered the legal metrology department to raid all the drinking water outlets. So far 1169 places have been raided and 279 cases have been filed. In Mangaluru we have raided 67 places and 12 cases have been filed. Water is not included under the legal metrology act. If the water comes under essential commodity, we can take action against those who sell it for a higher price. We are adding drinking water under the legal metrology act”, said the Minister for Food and Civil supplies U T Khader in a press meet held at the Circuit house here on May 11.
Khader also said, “For the first offense, the seller will have to pay a fine Rs 2000 and for the second offense the seller will face a jail term of six months. The seller cannot charge more for the same product. The seller should provide the water for the MRP price and not charge extra. According to the legal metrology department, all the malls and supermarkets should sell water for MRP price. Sometimes drinking water is not allowed inside movie theaters. We will discuss this issue with the BBMP and MCC to serve notices to allow drinking water to be taken inside the theaters”.
Food waste
The state government will bring a food policy since a lot of food is wasted during marriage functions in halls. A meeting was held with all the NGO’s in this regard. Everyone has the right to enjoy food but no one has the right to waste it. Some people waste food but many starve. We will streamline suggestions received from NGOs and others. We have received a number of suggestions of food being wasted. Some have suggested of keeping a refrigerator in the community and marriage halls.”