Many states have served notices on companies selling bottled beverages in different MRPs(Maximum Retail Price).
Last year, the central government had ruled that sale of packaged water and soft drinks above MRP (Maximum Retail Price) — including at airports, multiplexes and hotels — will attract stringent penal actions like fines and jail term.
The metrology department of Maharashtra has even sought the state government’s permission to take these companies to the consumer forum for unfair trade practices, reports The Economic Times.
States like Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh have issued challans against some companies, sources in the consumer affairs ministry informed to the newspaper.
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Consumer Affairs Minister Ram Vilas Paswan had acknowledged that packaged drinking water is sold at 10-20 per cent higher rates at these places, while in some cases, MRP is not even written on the water bottle and “soft drinks like Coca Cola are sold in loose at an increased rate”.
Some suggestions like fixing excise duty on the basis of highest MRP on the companies charge for the same packaged item have also been given.
