The
health wing of the Kochi Corporation, in association with the Legal
Metrology Department, will conduct inspections at malls and shopping
complexes to find out if customers are charged over and above the
Maximum Retail Price (MRP) for packaged food products.

The decision of the civic body to crack down on traders who fleece customers was announced by Mayor Soumini Jain on Wednesday.

“After
the joint inspections, the civic body will follow them up,” she said.
Deputy Mayor T.J. Vinod and councillors V.P. Chandran and Antony
Painuthara said cinema hall owners had been exploiting customers.

Mr.
Vinod pointed out that some theatre managements had indiscriminately
hiked ticket rates after the implementation of Goods and Services Tax
(GST).

“Post-GST, the civic bodies have no role in controlling
pricing, as taxes are paid online, and tickets need not be stamped by
them. This has resulted in huge financial loss on account of
entertainment tax. Annually, the Kochi Corporation loses around Rs. 14
crore. It should be compensated,” Mr. Vinod said.

Ms. Jain said the issue would be brought to the notice of the State government.