bengaluru a proposal to merge the state legal metrology department with the food department has raised the hackles of consumers and officials alike as it comes at a time when irregularities especially mrp violations are rampant after the implementation of goods and services tax gstearlier this year the states sixth pay commission headed by retired ias officer mr srinivasamurthy had recommended merger of these departments to improve administrative efficiency the departments with similar mandate working in silos is not advisable we have suggested an integrated administration according to which the legal metrology and food departments will work as a unit srinivasamurthy said advt weve not heard from the government so far its in the proposal stage food and civil supplies principal secretary tk anil kumar said an official in the finance department however said the cabinet may take it up after november 5 byelectionsboth the departments come under the food and civil supplies ministry but work independently the legal metrology department is governed by the central legislation and rules provided under the legal metrology act2009 and the legal metrology packaged commodities rules 2012 it monitors compliance among traders with regard to standard weights measurement and prices while all shops and establishments come under its preview the wing oversees calibration of fuel dispenser machines storage tanks flow meters and lpg dispensers at petrol pumps it also ensures accuracy of meters in autos and taxis inmotion rail weighbridges sale of packaged commodities at maximum retail price mrp the mrp stickers on packets and purity of gold sold at retail outletstrained legal metrology officers issue weights and measurement licences and visit shops to ensure compliance if the recommendation is implemented food inspectors will take over enforcement and monitor compliance in terms of both weights measurement and prices officials saidthis is where the problem lies legal metrology is a specialised department that calls for specially qualified and trained workforce food inspectors are mandated to oversee public distribution system and not cut out for this said ramaiah deputy controller of legal metrology administration who has forwarded a representation against the proposal to food and civil supplies minister zameer ahmed khan advt consumer rights activists too feel the move is against the interest of consumers the expert committee constituted by the centre has stressed the need for separate ministries of consumer affairs in all states to ensure protection of consumer rights this proposal goes against it said ravindranath guru president of consumer care societyyg muralidharan founder trustee of consumer rights education and awareness trust said the government must focus on strengthening the legal metrology in view of the impact of gst on trade and consumer behaviour gst burdenthe tax rates on commodities were changed four times after the new taxation system was launched in july last year and each time the legal metrology department had to ensure that the traders affix new mrp stickers on packets of goods and traders pass on the benefit of lower tax rates to consumers about 45 lakh traders have been