Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has collected more than Rs 17.9 lakh in fines and compounding fees over the last four financial years from traders and petrol pumps found violating weights and measures regulations.
The data was presented by Food Supplies & Consumer Welfare Minister Krushna Chandra Patra in the state assembly on Wednesday.
In a written reply to a question by Baliguda (ST) MLA Chakramani Kanhar, the Minister revealed that several traders and petrol pump operators were penalised under the Legal Metrology Act, 2009, and the Orissa Legal Metrology (Enforcement) Rules, 2011. The penalties followed regular inspections and raids conducted by Weights and Measures Officers and Inspectors.
The Minister also stated that retail shops found guilty of selling underweight items and engaging in fraudulent measurement practices were fined a total of Rs 2,56,500 over the past four years:
- FY 2022–23: Rs 23,500
- FY 2023–24: Rs 1,55,000
- FY 2024–25: Rs 48,000
- FY 2025–26 (till date): Rs 30,000
Meanwhile, compounding fees amounting to Rs 15,38,000 were collected from petrol pumps caught cheating customers during fuel dispensing:
- FY 2022–23: Rs 3,17,000
- FY 2023–24: Rs 9,91,000
- FY 2024–25: Rs 1,61,000
- FY 2025–26 (till date): Rs 69,000
Despite these efforts, the Legal Metrology Organisation faces a manpower shortage, with only 167 of the 318 sanctioned posts filled. The Minister assured that recruitment drives are underway to strengthen enforcement.
To curb the sale of adulterated, counterfeit, and substandard products, special squads conduct regular raids, and legal action is taken against offenders.
The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) is also conducting awareness campaigns to promote the purchase of hallmarked gold jewellery. BIS collects and tests gold samples from the market, taking strict action against those failing purity tests under the BIS Act, 2016.
