Kolkata: A large number of complaints about citizens being duped while buying properties were pouring into ‘Janatar Darbar’ at the BJP party office in Salt Lake as well as the CMO grievance cell every day, said Suvendu Adhikari on Tuesday as he opened the ‘Consumer Rights Protection Week’ at New Market. He pointed out that the govt had a zero-tolerance approach towards any kind of fraud, including consumers being cheated, real estate fraud, manipulation of weighing machines, food adulteration and the use of harmful chemicals to make fish and vegetables appear fresh.“ Fraudsters are using fake advertisements to collect advance payments in the name of flat booking, cheating buyers of their money,” Adhikari said.During the Consumer Rights Protection Week, the govt will host an array of events, including baul performances, street plays and tableaux as well as distribute leaflets and hold social media campaigns to educate consumers. The department officials will visit markets to inspect weighing instruments, while awareness stalls will be set up at various places.Pointing to the recent spike in the prices of vegetables and sugar, Adhikari claimed administrative intervention had brought down the rates to some extent. He warned traders against artificially raising rice prices, saying there was no reason as Bengal was a paddy-surplus state. “Consumers are being cheated at every step — from manipulation of weighing scales and electronic machines while buying vegetables and fish to not being given receipts,” he said.The govt has prohibited the use of harmful colours in food at restaurants, hotels and sweet shops as well as hazardous chemicals to make fish and vegetables look fresh, Adhikari said. “The practice flourished owing to a nexus between profit-driven traders and sections of corrupt cops and officials. It won’t be tolerated,” the CM warned.Citing a recent online fraud case, Adhikari said the Bidhannagar Police Commissionerate arrested 120 people following raids on New Town premises around 10 days ago. “The gang used names of online food and goods delivery companies and conned people,” he said.
