Even after several warnings issued to market vendors by DMC against manipulating rates of various items, a vegetable vendor was caught selling above fixed rate and according was imposed fine by DMC Saturday evening at New Market.
The matter was brought to the notice of DMC by this Reporter when the vegetable vendor charged Rs.15 in excess for a kilogram of cabbage. The DMC has fixed the rate at Rs.35 per kg but the vendor demanded Rs.50 per kg.
On being informed, DMC LDA market rate & quality control Satya Narayan Yadav arrived at the spot and issued challan on the vendor with summon notice to appear before DMC office on Monday at 11:30 am. Yadav also warned the vendor and others of similar consequences if they are caught with such malpractices.
When this Reporter pointed out that setting up a digital meter highlighting rates or hanging a black board on prices daily would be of great help, Yadav said installation of digital board would take time since it was expensive. He also mentioned that DMC has initiated hanging black boards earlier but the boards get damaged easily and therefore other alternatives were being explored.
The vendor who was caught selling over DMC rate had blamed vegetable wholesalers at Marwaripatti for selling at high rates. He also attempted to offer cash to this Reporter when confronted for manipulating the vegetable price.