----------------------------------------------------- Do GOACAN a favour, circulate this email to your family members, relatives, neighbours and friends. Help other CONSUMERS to be better informed. ----------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------- GOACAN conducts surprise raid of shops at KTC Bus Stand Margao, detects violations, Govt. officials book offences. --------------------------------------------------------------- GOACAN conducted a surprise raid at the Kadamba Bus Stand at Margao as part of the ongoing awareness week on consumer rights and got officials of the Department of Legal Metrology and Directorate of Food and Drug Administration to book offences against the owners of the shops for violations of the Acts & Rules in force.
Consumer Forum volunteers from Velim. Cuncolim, Davorlim, Raia, Seraulim and Nuvem armed with banners, flags and placards participated in the raid of the six shops operating at the Bus Stand with licences from the Kadamba Transport Corporation Ltd. The 6 shops that were raided were Purohit Sweets, Vignesh Cold Drinks, Rudesh Cold Drinks, Pankaj Cold Drinks & General Stores, Damodar Sweets & Cold Drinks and Mahalaxmi General Stores. The Department of Legal Metrology was represented by the Salcete Taluka Inspector Mr. G.A.Gulburg who inspected the 6 shops after examining the packets identified by Forum volunteers, decided to book the cases under the Standards of Weights & Measures (Packaged Commodities) Rules 1977 and then prepared the seizure report & panchanama. A total of 342 packets of eatables were seized. The Directorate of Food and Drug Administration was represented by the Food Inspector Mr. Rajiv Korde who also inspected the 6 shops after examining the packets identified by Forum volunteers, decided to book the cases under the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act and then prepared the seizure report. A total of 314 packets of eatables were seized. GOACAN and the Consumer Forums have been receiving complaints that packaged food items are being sold at these shops with no labels stating name of the packer, full address, details of contents, weight, date of packing and expiry date and the maximum retail price. GOACAN is concerned that these shops have been granted licences by KTC Ltd and using their vantage position at the Bus stand, exploit the consumers by putting these food items for sale. The Bus stand is visited by thousands of commuters daily besides the bus conductors and drivers who purchase food items from these shops. Todays action was planned to send a strong message to the shop keepers, manufacturers and suppliers that the Consumer Forums will not tolerate this abuse of the law. GOACAN also took up the matter with Depot Manager of the KTC Bus Stand that the details of the licence holders of these shops must be maintained in South Goa and regular inspections be undertaken by the KTC officials. In this regard GOACAN will write to the Director of Transport, Chairman and Managing Director of Kadamba Transport Corporation to warn all licence holders of all shops at Bus Stands in Goa that they have to strictly follow the Acts & Rules in force or else their licences be suspended. Many commuters, drivers and conductors complained to the Forum volunteers that these shop keepers over charge on the MRP of soft drinks and packaged drinking water sold at the bus stand. Meanwhile GOACAN information slips were distributed by the Forum volunteers at the Bus Stand to inform consumers of their rights to proper labelling of all packaged food items and that the violations can be reported to the Department of Legal Metrology on Phone Nos: Panaji 2421037, Margao 2703859 and Mapusa 2256311 and the Directorate of Food and Drug Administration can be contacted on Phone Nos. Panaji 2220245 / 2224639. GOACAN appeals to consumers to be vigilant whilst puchasing from shops at the Kadamba Bus Stands and to file complaints with the concerned Depot Managers and send copies of their complaints by post to GOACAN Post Box 187 Margao 403 601 or by email to [email protected]. ---------------------------------------------------------- GOA CIVIC AND CONSUMER ACTION NETWORK ---------------------------------------------------------- promoting civic and consumer rights in Goa ---------------------------------------------------------- GOACAN Post Box 187 Margao, Goa 403 601 GOACAN Post Box 78 Mapusa, Goa 403 507 mail: [email protected] Visit: http://goacan.blogspot.com ----------------------------------------------------------
