September 09, 2008	Tuesday	Ramazan 8, 1429

HYDERABAD, Sept 8: The district government has failed to enforce its writ in controlling prices of fruits and daily-use items even seven days after the commencement of the holy month as it seeks to get Sindh Home Department impose a ban on movement of milk.

The department has not thus responded to the district government’s request for ban. The district issues lists regularly to each fruit and vegetable seller and meat sellers.

A visit to the city’s Main Tower market on Monday showed the number of buyers was fast declining, perhaps due to hike in prices of fruits – the main ingredient of Iftar.

On the other hand, Bachat Bazaars have not yet been established, which enable buyers to get fruit at lower prices though the quality of fruits being sold in these bazaars remains questionable.

Retailers usually do not bother to adhere to official lists. They argue that they do not act on the lists because they have not been compiled within the main fruit and vegetable market.

DCO Ali Ahmed has taken notice of violation of official prices and issued stern directives to officials concerned in this regard. But apparently the directives have failed to be any use to consumers.

Under his directive revenue magistrates were supposed to be present between 1 pm to 6.30 pm and DDO revenue has to ensure his presence for two hours at each complaint centre.

The staff of fire brigade station where a complaint centre had been set up said that neither mukhtiarkar nor DDO had visited the centre till 4 pm.

According to a revenue department source, the magisterial powers were delegated to them by Sindh High Court through sessions judge. There are eight revenue magistrates, including four each DDOs and mukhtiarkars, who are exercising the powers.

“How the eight officials will be able to take care of overcharging complaints besides looking after their daily office work as well,” said a source, adding that no major punishment had so far been awarded to any violator.

Revenue officials are unable to check surge in retail price of milk even after fixing its wholesale rate at Rs33 per litre and retail rate at Rs35 per litre.

The retail milk sellers are selling the commodity at Rs40 and in some areas Rs42 per litre.

A source in revenue department said that the home department had been moved to impose a ban on movement of milk under section 144 for a month given the fact that under Sindh Local Government Ordinance (SLGO) 2001 the district nazim could invoke this section for not more than seven days in a month and not beyond two consecutive days.

The district government had sent the request about five days before the advent of Ramazan, he said.

Last year, the district government had handled milk crisis and it was sold at Rs28 per litre although retailers had tried to sell it at Rs32 per litre. The district nazim had imposed section 144 Cr.PC which led to impounding of vehicles carrying milk to Karachi.

Milk dealers of Karachi buy a huge quantity of milk in Hyderabad which at times affects the city’s own requirement.