Drive against fake weights from September 1

HYDERABAD: Finding faults with measuring scales, weights and balances at outlets? Customers can now walk in to the Legal Metrology department or call to lodge a complaint against defective weights and measures.With a number of complaints pouring in to the Legal Metrology depaWrtment, the controller has directed to initiate a special drive against these defective weights and measures.For instance, P Kiranmayi, a home-maker, had purchased a necklace worth Rs 95,000 at a jewellery shop in Basheerbagh a few months ago.After the necklace was polished twice and tested at a hallmark centre, it was found to be fake and weighed lesser than normal.In another incident, Y Meghanath, an employee of a private firm, lodged a complaint alleging a petrol pump located at Chikkadapally had been manipulating its customers and tampering with the digital meter.“If consumers come across any trader who is deceiving people by using defective measures, they can lodge a complaint to the Legal Metrology by dialling 040-27508367,” said the Legal Metrology department assistant controller PSRNT Swamy.According to Legal Metrology officials, 923 cases have been booked in 2010-11 against errant auto drivers for using tampered meters.Last year, they booked 681 cases.Out of a total of 7,865 cases, 335 cases were registered against auto drivers for demanding extra fare from passengers and 250 for refusing to carry passengers.Till September 2010, officials have also booked 676 cases during the festivals, with 33 jewellery shops in Hyderabad found violating the Weights and Measures Act and 46 in Rangareddy district.The legal metrology officials will initiate the special drive from September 1 to 6. The drive would check activities of traders dealing with dispensing pumps, tank trucks, weigh bridges, kerosene dealers, lubricants, cooking gas, Food Corporation of India, crusher stone chips, banks, cooperative stores, railway stations, rice mills, steel traders, cement, electrical items, tobacco and cigarette dealers, timber, firewood and coal, edible oil, spirituous liquor including beer, milk and other dairy products, vegetables, fruits, fish, poultry and meat, regulated markets, shopping malls, auto meters, sweet shops, ice-creams and soft drinks shops, mineral water, imported packages, gold and precious stones and pawn brokers.