190 cases filed after raids on meat & fish stalls

PNS|Vijayawada

Vigilance & Enforcement officials, along with the officers of the Legal Metrology Department, conducted surprise raids across the State on Sunday. As many as 353 fish, chicken and mutton shops were raided on the basis of complaints that the vendors were using non-standard weights and instruments without seal and stamp of the Legal Metrology Department.

After the inspection, 190 cases were filed and penalties were imposed under various sections of the Legal Metrology Act, 2009 for deceiving the public. Penalties were imposed on six shops of Amadavalasa of Srikakulam district, nine shops of Kothavalasa of Vizianagaram district, nine shops of Palakonda of PVP Manyam district, 11 shops of Anakapalli of Anakapalli district, eight shops of Jaggampeta mandal of Kakinada district, 10 shops of Kovvuru Town of East Godavari district, seven shops of Ravulapalem mandal of Dr BR Ambedkar district, eight shops of Ganapavaram of Eluru district, 15 shops of Bhimavaram of West Godavari district, eight shops of Yanamalakuduru fish market of Penamaluru mandal of Krishna district, 14 shops of Patamata fish market of NTR Vijayawada district, six shops of Mangalgiri of Guntur district, six shops of Baptla district, 10 shops of Palnadu district,11 shops of Ongole town of Prakasam district, two shops of Nellore city, three shops of Kurnool, four shops of Nandyal and eight shops of Tirupati for using unstamped/non-standard weighing machines.

In Aparna fish market of Cherukupalli of Bapatla district, a difference of 380 g was noticed in weight and a case was registered against the shopkeeper. Fine was imposed on five shops of Nellore city and two shops in Kurnool town as shopkeepers failed to maintain proper hygiene.

The Vigilance & Enforcement department has given statutory warning to all business vendors to strictly follow rules and regulations as laid down in the Legal Metrology Act, 2009.