Vigilance panels to check overcharging for packaged foods

Maharashtra Food and Civil Supplies department has formed vigilance committees at state and municipal corporation levels to create awareness and prevent overcharging for packaged liquid food items like drinking water, milk and aerated drinks.
"There were several complaints regarding overcharging under the pretext of 'refrigeration charges' from different parts of the state. As per rules, any charges other than the 'MRP' are illegal," state Food and Civil Supplies Minister Girish Bapat said.
"The committees would ensure that proper awareness is created over the issue and the customers are not overcharged," he said, adding that such measures would also need people's participation.

The state-level committee would be headed by the minister and will have a secretary-level official, two government-nominated persons and heads of committees at municipal corporation level as its members.
The committee at the municipal corporation level will be headed by deputy or assistant controller (metrology department) and will have five citizens along with two government nominated persons as members.
"The appointments would be for three years and will be made in consultation with the guardian ministers. The committees at the corporation level are expected to conduct at least one meeting every month," Bapat said.
Guardian Ministers for districts are appointed to look after development works and related affairs in that area.

The committees are expected to create awareness about provisions of various Acts in this regard and intimate the administration if they come across cases of violation of rules, he said, adding these panels would start acting soon.