By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: “The Meghalaya Legal Metrology department is the first in the country to have fully utilized its funds,” boasted Director of Legal Metrology, Department of Consumer Affairs, BN Dixit, here on Tuesday.
Speaking to reporters on the sideline of the inauguration of the working standard laboratory and conference hall of the department here, Dixit said that the Union Government, under the 11th and the 12th Five-Year Plans, had sanctioned equal amounts of Rs 1.75 crore for the State Legal Metrology department.
He asserted that the Union Government, through its scheme aimed at strengthening of legal metrology infrastructure in the states and union territories, is providing computers and mobile kits for testing of beverages, besides imparting training to the officers of the department.
“We are now collaborating with the Japanese Government to impart extensive training to the officers,” Dixit said, while adding that the Union Government wants a laboratory in every district of all the states.
Reacting to a query, he said that the department takes report from the Meghalaya Government on the activities of the department on a monthly basis.
Earlier, Legal Metrology Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar inaugurated the working standard laboratory and conference hall and also a workshop on Legal Metrology Acts and Rules of the Legal Metrology department, here on Tuesday.
Speaking on the occasion, the Minister informed that the Union Government has sanctioned funds for similar laboratories in other districts of the State and it will be helpful for people to accurately measure goods.
It may be mentioned that the Central Government had sanctioned Rs 25 lakh for the project at the district level.
“We will be at a total loss if there is no accuracy in weight and measurement,” Dhar said, while expressing his happiness that the department has now started working in a positive way.
Later, the Minister also presented computer sets to several Inspectorates under the modernization scheme of the department.