Govt not to fix quantum of food served in hotels, restaurants: Paswan

New Delhi: The Government does not want to fix the quantum of food that needed to be served by hotels and restaurants,Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Ram Vilas Paswan said today. He maintained that there was no plan to impose any advisory, act or law in this regard. The Department of Consumer Affairs has framed an advisory on the issue of service charge, which is in the final stage, he told a press conference here. Meanwhile, in view of the bumper production and arrivals, all procuring agencies have been directed continue with domestic procurement of pulses till April 22 instead of April 15.

Mr Paswan said all procuring Government agencies will buy the pulses direct from farmers on MSP rate. He informed that the Government had procured around 18.10 lakh tonnes of pulses including 4 lakh tonnes of imports towards building the buffer stock of pulses of up to 20 lakh tonnes. He further said that considering the quantity of sugar available with the carry over stock of 77 lakh tonnes and estimated current season’s production of 203 lakh tonnes was sufficient to meet the domestic consumption requirement at reasonable prices. The domestic demand of sugar consumption was 240-250 lakh tonnes. Mr Paswan said in order to address regional production gaps and also to maintain domestic prices at reasonable levels, the Government decided to allow import of a restricted quantity of only 5 lakh tonnes of raw sugar at zero duty through open general licence.

The Government also extended the time line for availing TRQ benefit (duty free) of 5 lakh tonnes of raw sugar import from June 12 to June 30. Regarding two MRPs, he ruled out more than one MRP except in accordance with the law. 'NCDRC is taking necessary action on the complaint of dual MRP,' Mr Paswan said, adding that the Department of Consumer Affairs has directed state governments and union territories to stop the practice of dual MRP on packaged water.

He informed that the BCCI has complied with the directions and issued an advisory to all state cricket associations/stadiums to sale packaged mineral water on single MRP (all brands) during cricket match with immediate effect. Hotels and restaurants are following the practice of charging 'service charge' is an unfair trade practice. The ‘service charges” are discretionary/ voluntarily and a consumer dissatisfied with the services can have it waived off.', Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Ram Vilas Paswan said. (UNI)