Protection and Preservation Committee, Manipur (PPCM) has demanded the Imphal Municipal Corporation (IMC) to direct every grocery shop owner or retailer shops open in Khwairamband Bazar to put up the names and numbers of the shop along with a price list of every essential commodity.
In a release issued by PPCM on Wednesday, the committee stated that they had carried out an awareness cum inspection visit along Thangal Keithel and came across many instances amounting to violation of norms and rules of government by shop owners. Many shops did not display their names or registration numbers, paid no taxes to the state government, lied on weight and that there were differences in prices of the same commodities from one shop to another.
It further said that PPCM observed that not displaying shop name and number is almost similar to disrespecting the rules and norms of the state government. With the absence of a price list of essential commodities, customers are compelled to pay the price decided by shop owners, the committee said.
Cheating of weight has become rampant nowadays, the committee said, adding that this kind of malpractice along with price rate differences has hit the poor community. As such, the Department of Weight and Measure should take up stringent action against shop owners who deceived customers, the PPCM said and questioned why the department of weight and measure was so inactive.
The release also assured that they will continue such drive in the interest of the people.