Commissioner Hyderabad warns profiteers

HYDERABAD: The Deputy Commissioner Hyderabad, Asif Ali Memon, has warned the profiteers to refrain from charging high prices from consumers otherwise strict action would be initiated against hoarders and illegal profiteers in accordance with the laws.

The Deputy Commissioner issued such warning while conducting surprise visit to different markets of Hyderabad City and Qasimabad Sub-Divisions on Wednesday.

He informed the residents of the areas that magisterial powers have been delegated to 28 Revenue officers of Hyderabad district aimed to initiate prompt action against the hoarders and illegal profiteers on the spot.

He asked the shopkeepers, fruit merchants, venders to affix the approved rate list of their commodities on visible place of their shops and do not charge higher than fixed prices.

He warned that in case of violation, the defaulters would be punished with Rs. 0.1 million fine or three years imprisonment or both simultaneously under Section 7 of Price Control Prevention of Profiteering and Hoarding Act 1977.

He said that on the 1st Ramzan, the Revenue Magistrates including himself visited different markets and other sub-divisions of the district but having been 1st day of Ramzan, officers issued warning to the shopkeepers for not charging high prices and added that operation against profiteers has been started from today.

He said that day to day performances of Revenue officers would be communicated to media to make the people more aware.

Referring the complaints, the Deputy Commission asked the people that they should not pay more than fixed price and also to identify such profiteers and black sheep in marketing staff, in any.

He said that complaint centres have already been established one each in the office of Commissioner Hyderabad with telephone No.9200202 and in the office of Deputy Commissioner Hyderabad with telephone Nos. 9200570, 9200571 and asked the people for giving feedback in the interest of common people.

Responding to another complaint about the distribution of flour on subsidized rates, the Deputy Commissioner informed that on the first day of Ramzan as many as 39125 flour bags each of 10 Kg have been supplied at 119 stalls setup for distributions of subsidized rates in the district.

However, he said that the scheme for organizing Bachat Bazar would be implemented on every Friday at each sub-division where the essential commodities would be sold out on subsidized prices.

He said that all Assistant Commissioners have been directed to coordinate trading parties to make this unique outlet facility more success. Besides, the management of the Utility Stores has been strictly directed to keep all kitchen commodities available at their outlets on concession, he said.

He appealed the people to prefer the outlets of the Utility Stores, Bachat Bazars for the purchase of their kitchen items rather than paying high prices in the market.

During surprise visit, the Deputy Commissioner, Assistant Commissioners of concerned areas also imposed fine on the shopkeepers, vendors on account of charging high prices and not affixing the price list on their facility.

He warned the shopkeepers to refrain from the violation of the rules failing which they would be awarded imprisonment of three years along with penalty.