Bhubaneswar, September 24: The Odisha government has collected over Rs 17.9 lakh in fines from traders and petrol pumps that have violated weight and fuel regulations over the past four financial years.
Food Supplies & Consumer Welfare Minister Krushna Chandra Patra shared this data in the state assembly in response to a query from Baliguda MLA Chakramani Kanhar. The fines were levied under the Legal Metrology Act, 2009, and Orissa Legal Metrology Rules, 2011, following inspections and raids by Weights and Measures officers.
In the last four years, retail shops were fined Rs 2.56 lakh for selling underweight items: FY 2022–23: Rs 23,500, FY 2023–24: Rs 1.55 lakh, FY 2024–25: Rs 48,000, FY 2025–26 (till date): Rs 30,000
Additionally, petrol pumps were fined Rs 15.38 lakh for fuel dispensing fraud: FY 2022–23: Rs 3.17 lakh,
FY 2023–24: Rs 9.91 lakh, FY 2024–25: Rs 1.61 lakh, FY 2025–26 (till date): Rs 69,000
The Legal Metrology Organisation faces a staffing shortfall, with only 167 of 318 posts filled. The Minister assured that recruitment is underway to strengthen enforcement. Special squads continue to raid markets for adulterated and substandard products, while BIS promotes the purchase of hallmarked gold.
