DON'T PAY MORE FOR KEROSENE

Dishonest MR dealers cautioned in Cooch Behar

The recent price hike of fuels prompted a section of modified ration dealers to turn more dishonest. They are taking hiked price for kerosene though they lifted the item prior to the price hike. District controller of food and supplies department cautioned the dishonest dealers that strict steps would be taken against them if they take higher price than the stipulated price.

On Sunday, a number of ration-card holders staged demonstration at a MR shop at Takagachh in Cooch Behar. The locals alleged that the dealer was taking higher price for kerosene. They allegedly never get cash memos against the commodities they buy from the shop. They are even denied of the changes in return of the money they submit during buying of commodities. Smelling danger, the owner of the shop fled away. The agitated locals confined the shop assistant and the demonstration was held for a few hours.

Local people said the shop was of one Hena Talukdar but after her death one Satyaranjan Ghosh took charge of it. He is running the shop for about 15 years. On Sunday, after his escape the agitated locals confined the shop assistant Bachchu Das. They forced him to open the shop only to find that there was huge quantity of ration commodities inside the shop though they were denied of buying these. The Upa-pradhan of Takagachh Rajarhat Gram Panchayat Ms Surodhani Das said she got no complaints against the dealer so far. She assured of inquiring into the allegations.

When contacted today, the Controller of district Food and Supplies department Mr Shyamal Shil said he will make a probe into the Takagachh incident and if found guilty necessary steps will also be taken. There was a standing instruction that the dealers must give cash memos to the ration-card holders against the commodities they buy. Taking of higher price than the scheduled price will never be allowed. The recent disturbances in the oil companies created problems in smooth supply of kerosene but that problem was over. Now, the buyers can get kerosene from the MR shops without any trouble, he said. The difference of rates against the kerosene lifted by the dealers before and after the price hike may have brought an opportunity among a section of MR dealers to practice dishonesty, he admitted.

It may be mentioned here that in many MR shops in Cooch Behar the consumers never get cash memos and non-returning of small changes is also a regular practice. Complaints do not attract any action by the authorities, consumers allege. The agitation at Takagachh may act as a caution to the dishonest MR dealers, they believe.