LMD to probe weight bridge sabotage plaints

Mumbai: Following complaints about malpractices involving farm produce by sabotaging weighing bridges, the Legal Metrology Department (LMD) has started a probe into the illegal activities.

At least 80 weighbridges, in several APMCs,  sugar factories, cotton and jinning mills are under the scanner and are being examined for under-weighing the produce, LMD officials said.

The LMD has formed a committee that will now check the weighbridges and come up with a report based on the facts collected from the user, repairers and manufacturers of the electronic weighbridges, for further action.

“We are checking the weighbridges based on several factors and rules. The audit report will be taken up for verification first and stamping of the weighing bridges is the first step in finalising of instructions,” said Amitabh Gupta, LMD chief.

The officials, however, refused to reveal how many such bridges have been sabotaged and since when. The LMD officials are mulling over bringing into effect the new set of instructions from Monday, in order to cut down on the alleged malpractices.

The official will examine various factors such as the software version, checking of the electronic circuit for ascertaining if any unauthorised part is fixed on it if any electronic calibration was conducted by breaking of the seal, integrity of hardware and software and facility of sealing of e-calculator.

“Preservation of audit reports by concerned inspectors, users of the weighbridges and the manufacturers have been made mandatory,” added Mr Gupta.   

The LMD officials have also issued an appeal, asking people to email complaints pertaining to the weighbridges to on ‘dclmms_complaints@yahoo.com’.