Ernakulam sees a drop in cases against traders this Onam

KOCHI: Traders in Ernakulam did not resort to overpricing or stockpiling during this Onam compared with previous years, said officials with the legal metrology, civil supplies and food safety departments. They said the drop in cases registered in their departments in connection with such malpractices was due to a growth grind-down and reduced purchasing power of consumers.

Last year, the squads of these departments didn't conduct inspections as the state had been reeling under the after-effects of heavy rains and floods. But compared with 2017, there has been a decline in the number of such cases registered this year for such violations.

"Usually traders stockpile provisions and jack up the prices during Onam. But we did not come across such violations this time, owing to the bleak economic scenario. The purchasing power of the public has come down forcing the traders to sell products at cheap rates. The only product which was fetching a high price before Onam was ginger. But even its price came down during Onam days. Last year, the prices of drumstick had touched around Rs 110/kg. The price of cowpea was also high. But no other vegetables were overpriced during this Onam," said a civil supplies official, who was a member of the inspection team formed in Kunnathunadu with jurisdiction in Kothamangalam and Muvattupuzha.

He said inspections were conducted in 80 ration shops in the area, and only 18 cases were registered, that too for not keeping enough provisions in the shops. In total, three squads were formed in the district for inspection in shops during the Onam.

Food safety officials also echoed the same sentiment. "There was a decline in the production of food items during this Onam festival compared with the past years. If there are more buyers, production will increase, resulting in price manipulation. When we visited shops and manufacturing units before the Onam festival days, traders had pointed to a 25-30% decline in turnover," said food safety assistant commissioner Jacob Thomas. The food safety officials conducted inspection in 400 units and collected around Rs 3 lakh in fine.