KAKINADA: Traders operating at Ratnagiri at the famous Lord Sri Veera Venkateswara Satyanarayana Swamy Temple in Annavaram are exploiting pilgrims and devotees collecting exorbitant prices on whatever they sell.
From a bottle of cold drink to packets of chips, the traders charge prices more than the maximum retail price (MRP) mentioned on the packing to the devotees who arrive there in large numbers.
According to sources, weights and measurements department officials had recently conducted raids in the area and had warned the traders not to collect above MRP. Devasthanam also has put up display boards that nobody should sell goods beyond the MRP. The boards are in every stall.
Still, a majority of the traders do not follow the guidelines and charge heavy prices. Most devotees said that the traders were exploiting them by collecting anywhere between '2 and '20 above the MRP. If they try to raise their voice, the traders behave in an ugly manner, they added.
Justifying their position, a trader said, "It is necessary for us to charge above the MRP as we got the shops paying a high price at the auction. The temple collects power charges at Rs.12 per unit. The goods should be carried from other places to the hills because of which we are forced to pay heavy transportation charges. We cannot sell the goods at MRP and make some profit.
Asked about the MRP display boards, the trader said that such boards were displayed as a general practice. When the traders took part in the auction, the officials did not tell them that the goods are to be sold at MRP. He added that the officials also knew the fact that the traders may incur losses.
Meanwhile, the Executive Officer of Annavaram Devasthanam M. Jithendra said that they were imposing fines on traders who collect prices beyond the MRP.
He said that the devotees should inform the Devasthanam officials, if any trader demands them to pay beyond the MRP for the goods. He said that at least two cases every month were reported for MRP violations. He also said that though the Devasthanam was having inspection wings, the traders notice the officials and would not sell beyond the MRP when the officials were inspecting the shops.
The weights and measurement officials say that they have created awareness on not selling the goods above MRP among the traders. They also said that the fines should be credited to the department, if Devasthanam was collecting fines in violating MRP rules.
