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Kerala cracks down on overpriced popcorn in theatres after public complaints
The Kerala government has launched inspections and talks with theatre owners over steep food prices. The move follows public anger over overcharging, poor quality and alleged MRP violations.
The Kerala government has taken steps to address complaints about the high prices of popcorn and other refreshments in movie theatres, Food and Civil Supplies Minister Anoop Jacob said on Wednesday. He said talks were under way with theatre owners on revising the rates and that they had been told the public was unhappy with the steep prices in cinema halls.
As part of the intervention, inspections have been carried out across the state and cases have been registered over violations, the minister said. He also said district authorities had been told to ensure that drinking water is available to customers in theatres.
"They (theatre owners) need to understand the public feeling and charge what is justified. Whatever we can do under the law, we shall do that," Jacob told a TV channel. He said 35 inspections had been conducted across the state and 33 cases had been registered in connection with them. Of these, two were registered by the Health Department over poor food quality and 16 by the Legal Metrology Department.
"Issues of items being sold at prices more than the MRP or by manipulating its weight or quantity are being viewed seriously by the government," he said. Jacob said any complaint received would be examined. He also said directions had been issued for mandatory inspections across the state at fixed intervals. The first round of checking was under way in Idukki district during the day, while the second round in Ernakulam district had been completed a day earlier.
Jacob had last week warned of strict action against those who change the quantity, weight and price of products in theatres and markets in the state. His warning had come days after the Legal Metrology Department carried out inspections at cinema theatres in malls following complaints of overcharging for food items. Thiruvananthapuram Corporation Mayor V V Rajesh had also said he had been receiving frequent complaints about theatres charging excessive prices for tickets and food items, and contended that such practices were not new and had been going on for years.
In sum, the Kerala government has begun inspections, registered cases and opened discussions with theatre owners as it responds to complaints over the pricing and quality of food items sold in cinema halls.