28 Revenue officers delegated magisterial powers

Deputy Commissioner Hyderabad Asif Ali Memon has warned the profiteers to refrain from charging high prices from consumers or be ready to face the music. This he observed while paying surprise visit of different markets in Qasimabad and Hyderabad City on Wednesday. Talking the people, the Deputy Commissioner Hyderabad said that as many as 28 revenue officers of District Hyderabad have been delegated magisterial powers and entrusted to curb the hoarders and illegal profiteers on spot.
He directed 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 100,000 fine or three years imprisonment or both simultaneously under the Section 7 of Price Control Prevention of Profiteering and Hoarding Act 1977. He said that on Tuesday on the 1st Ramazan, the Revenue magistrates including him visited different markets in Hyderabad and other talukas of the district but having been 1st day of Ramazan, officers issued warning to the shopkeepers for not charging high prices and added that operation against profiteers has been started from Wednesday.
He said that day to day performances of revenue officers would be communicated to media to make the people more aware. The Deputy Commissioner referring the complaints asked the people that they do not pay more than fixed price and also to identify such profiteers. 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 another complaint about the distribution of flour on subsidised rates, the Deputy Commissioner informed that on the first day of Ramazan as many as 39,125 flour bags each of 10 kg have been supplied at 119 stalls setup for distributions of subsidised rates in the district.
However, he also said that the scheme for organisation of Bachat Bazaar would be implemented on every Friday at each taluka where the essential commodities would be sold out on concessional prices. He said that All Assistant Commissioners have been directed to co-ordinate 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 concessional rates. He appealed the people to prefer the outlets of the Utility Stores, Bachat Bazaars for the purchase of their kitchen items rather than paying high prices in the market.
During the surprise visit, the Deputy Commissioner Hyderabad, Assistant Commissioners of concerned areas 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.