The Hindu : Consumers' meeting criticises excess-charging by auto drivers

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Feb 04, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Consumers' meeting criticises excess-charging by auto drivers

By Our Staff Reporter

CHENNAI, FEB. 3. Excess-charging by autorickshaw drivers, enforcement of compulsory metre fares and safety in marriage halls were some of the issues highlighted at a consumers' meeting here today.

Almost all autorickshaws in the city ran on either tampered metres or drivers refused to put on metres, the participants said. Passengers find themselves haggling over fares and are often abused by the drivers.

Organised by the Tamil Nadu Consumer Protection Organisation-Chennai, the meeting discussed the plight of passengers arriving in the city and finding themselves at the mercy of the autorickshaw drivers.

Besides installing correctly calibrated metres in all autos, Government should ensure that metres were made compulsory, a resolution passed at the meeting said.

Pre-paid services for autorickshaws should also be put in place at all railway stations and places of public conglomeration.

In another resolution, the Organisation sought to draw the Government's attention to safety measures in marriage halls in the city. It said many houses in the city were being converted into marriage halls without any concern over safety measures. Licences should be given only after safety measures were taken.

The consumer forum also called for strict action against traders using plastic cups and bags, despite a Government ruling.

Among other issues highlighted was air pollution by vehicles, including lorries, buses and autorickshaws. Most of these vehicles used low quality fuel posing a risk to public health.

Differential pricing of commodities was another issue that confronted the consumers in the city. The Organisation demanded that every shop should put up a price list of commodities. Rampant corruption at Regional Transport Offices and Tahsildar offices and operation of touts were highlighted.

Another resolution pointed at cell phone charges being raised indiscriminately by the service providers, which burdened the consumers. Also, the consumers ended up paying higher charges for credit cards, which are usually packaged attractively. The Organisation sought immediate Government intervention in this regard.

Train passengers and consumers going to public distribution outlets complained of various problems. Some of them complained that consumers in many places in the city were paying water tax to the Metrowater but did not receive water even through tankers.

S. Logaguru, State president, Tamil Nadu Consumer Protection Centre, initiated the discussion while Kamala, Deputy Director, Kilpauk Medical College, C. Paul Barnabas, president, Tamil Nadu Consumer Protection Organisation-Chennai, appealed to the people to forward their complaints to the consumer fora.

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