Mega Camp was organized in Thane district by Consumer Guidance Society of India (CGSI) under the aegis of Maharashtra government successfully addressed approximately 80 complaints of which majority were from the housing and FMCG sector. The camp was attended by Chief Guest being Dr. Madhav Kusekar (IAS), Thane Additional District Collector. The camp held at Niyojan Bhavan in Thane witnessed Milk Testing & Legal Aid initiative. This time, consumer complaints ranged from a broad spectrum White Goods/Electronics/Builders and many others.
“We are not surprised about the large number of complaints from the housing and FMCG sector since Thane is a new planned township in Mumbai. What we are surprised about is the number of complaints without proper agreements and MoUs to support their cases. As also consumer purchasing products online aren’t given proper service,” said Dr. M. S. Kamath, Hon. Secretary, CGSI.
A complainant at the camp was not given the possession of the flat over a period of more than 5 years and hence he filed a complaint with the District Consumer Forum. The forum issued an order that the Thane District Collector had to collect the refund from the builder as land revenue arrears is pending for execution. CGSI has intervened and will write to the district collector to sell the land and refund the money to the consumer.
In yet another case, the consumer living in a chawl had a Municipal water connection and is utilising it for his personal use, after a period of time, the builder in collusion with the authorities disconnected the same. The consumer was made to run from pillar to post for reconnection and approached the Consumer Forum. He received favourable order wherein the Forum observed that the aggrieved consumer should be compensated & given his due rights, but the orders have not been executed by the Thane Municipal Corporation. CGSI will be writing to the TMC to get the tap restored or refund the money to the consumer.
“Consumers sometimes become over ambitious by comparing their cases with those in the west without understanding the merit of it,” observed Anindita Kovoor, Managing Committee member, CGSI.
