Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 9: Minister for FCS&CA Ch Zulfkar Ali today said that Government was brining Legislation to control and regulate the hotel-banquets, marriage/community halls and farm houses across the State shortly.
Replying to a question of Congress member, Naresh Gupta in the Upper House today, Ch Zulfkar said that Government brought Guest Control Order but some banquet owners went to the High Court and then to Apex Court. The matter remained pending in the court since long. It could not be implemented. The Government was concerned about the fixation of rates and provision of required facilities to the public.
Responding to another question, the Minister said that his department has done its part, now the matter was pending before the GAD and after seeking clearance from the Law Department it will be given the final shape. He claimed that the Legislation would come shortly for the welfare of the general public.
In response to another question, the Minister claimed that Legal Metrology Department conducted checking at many petrol pumps across the State but not even a single case of adulteration could be detected. He, however, said that some cases of less fuel quality were booked and defaulters were fined heavily.
Congress member, alleged that LMD’s activities were not visible outside Srinagar and Jammu cities and consumers are deprived of their rights. The Minister however, claimed that LMD was facing shortage of staff as there were only 236 employees in the department, of which 33 are inspectors. He claimed that for a population of 3.5 lakhs there is one Inspector. The process was on to strengthen this department. Earlier, it was called as Weights and Measures Department, Zulfkar said.
Giving detail of functioning, Minister said that Legal Metrology Department booked 5052 establishments and realized a fine of Rs 66.59 lakh by conducting 40861 inspections during 2017.
He said the weighing scales, weights and measures available in the rural areas have been stamped by the department by organizing series of camps. The Government is also examining a proposal for reorganization of the department to further strengthen and increase its visibility in the rural and far-off areas.
The Minister further informed that the Legal Metrology Department regulates use of correct weighing and measuring instruments in production, trade and commerce to ensure that exact weight, measure and number of any commodity is provided as contracted for or paid for by the consumer. It conducts extensive market checking to prevent unfair trade practices being adopted by some unscrupulous traders, he added.
On implementation of Guest Control Order, the Minister said that due to evoking of court orders, the same could not be implemented in letter and spirit.
Replying to a supplementary question of Surinder Kumar Choudhary, the Minister informed that the department conducts regular inspections of the petrol pumps and no case of adulteration was reported from across the State. Legislator Ghulam Nabi Monga also raised supplementary question to the main question.
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