Statesman News Service
MALDA, Aug. 17: The Legal Metrology unit, under the department of Consumer Affairs are finding it difficult indeed to take action against ‘dishonest’ traders of the town.
Yesterday's incident proved that the district administration is helpless in this respect, having been forced to stop midway the special drive it had launched to check the weights and measures system used by the traders.
The traders did not hesitate to argue with the top district administration officials, preventing them from carrying out their duties when they identified six ‘dishonest’ traders on charges of using defective weights and measurement systems.
The district consumer affairs department had informed the district administrative officials about the traders’ irregularities as the latter did not bother to renew their weights and measurement systems despite several reminders.
The Malda additional district magistrate (development), the sub divisional officer and other concerned officials had accordingly launched a sudden drive in local markets yesterday in English Bazaar town.
Local traders not only protested against the drive but they also suggested that the officials, whom they called ‘bribe takers’, to organise workshops for them in markets before taking these steps.
The Malda Merchants’ Chamber of Commerce, a traders body has been sponsoring various programmes organised by the district administration in the last few years and the leaders have good relations with the top district officials like district magistrate and superintendent of police.
A senior police official said in this regard, “Administration may face problem in taking steps against them if MMCC continues to sponsor programmes where district administrative officials take part on behalf of the government.”
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