Hyderabad: Eateries in IT corridor charge for paper cups

Hyderabad: A few eateries in the city have started a trend in the city by charging for paper cups for tea or coffee especially in the IT corridor.

Tea vendors keep the glasses in unhygienic conditions and force customers to purchase coffee and tea in paper cups by paying `2 extra. Neither the civic body nor the legal meteorology officials are unaware of the loot.

According to Mr Ishaan of Gachibowli, small cafes and tea vendors came up with the idea of charging for paper cups since March.

He said that when he asked about the extra charge, vendors came up with the answer, "People like you are ready to waste thousands of rupees in malls and swanky eateries. Why do you question petty vendors about spending `2?"

Mr Ishaan said that extra charges for tea cups are collected by all tea vendors in Madhapur, Gachibowli, Raheje Mindspace, Wipro Circle, Financial District and Hitec City.

This issue has been even brought to light by  netizens. Mr Ashwin Alagati posted on his Twitter handle, “Sir, please visit Raheja Mindspace building number 9 melting pot where the food shop owner is charging extra money for paper cups and not maintaining clean regular cups .. ” (sic).

Mr Bhaskar Reddy, Assistant Controller, Legal Metrology said that the department cannot establish a case even though it was brought to their notice.

He said that the department has already had bitter experience with malls and multiplexes where they registered cases and failed to get verdicts in their favour.

Mr Reddy said according to the Packaged Commodities Rules, 2011, the seller can be booked only if there are any faults in sealed packages where they should to have the manufacturer’s address, quantity of goods, date of manufacturer, customer care number, consumer care number and type of product to establish a case. Mr Reddy said that since none of this is available with  eateries and vendors, the department cannot proceed further.

He said that this can be curbed only with the awareness campaigns.

GHMC additional commissioner, health and sanitation, Shruthi Ojha and chief medical officer Dr S.M. Quadri were unavailable for comment.