CURCHOREM: Some young Goan traders from Quepem along with Councillor of Quepem Municipal Council (QMC) Manuel Colaco gheraod Director of Legal Metrology (Weights and Measures) at Curchorem office, on Friday.
The youth who came with Manuel and former QMC chairperson Tereza D’Silva told the director that their inspector suddenly raided their shops and confiscated goods without issuing any warning or explaining department requirements to sell their products.
“Since we are new in the business, for the last six years we were not aware that there are rules and regulation of Metrology Department which we have to adhere, because, we produce and comply with all the requirements of the municipality when we apply for a trade licence. At least council should have informed us about it,” said Allwyn Menezes, who run the fashion designing business.
Another businessman Steve Faleiro said that authorities have confiscated some Christmas decorations which he kept at his shop stating that they do not have bar code or MRP on the product.
“It is the duty of the manufacturers to put bar code. We are buying goods from the open market in Mumbai if they are illegal then they must raid them and not harass small Goan traders,” Faleiro said.
He also informed that after confiscating their goods they issued a challan which do not have a serial number or department stamp nor proper address on it.
Councillor Colaco said that the authorities are not doing anything to the street vendors which they are selling non-branded goods without bar code and MRP on it, but harassing Goans who are doing their own business.
“The department should create mass awareness and must act professionally instead of acting selectively. They must check the product initially before it goes into the hands of small traders,” Colaco said and informed that they will meet Legal Metrology Minister Filipe Neri Rodrigues on Saturday.
