Jalpaiguri, Oct. 17: Jalpaiguri and parts of Bhutan are sitting on live wire. The shock-providers — plugs, bulbs, holders, wires, starters and other electrical gadgets.
Thousands of such fake electrical goods have flooded the markets of Jaigaon, Siliguri, Jalpaiguri, selling non-approved electrical fittings and gadgets at cheap prices. Asked about the problem, Debaditya Chakrobarty, divisional commissioner of Jalpaiguri, said: “We are aware of the problem and I have informed the government about the market that has mushroomed in these areas.”
The products have also found a market in Bhutan. Said a senior official at Samchi, a district on the Bhutan border: “Our local shopkeepers cannot meet the demand for electrical goods in these areas. This vacuum has been filled by the fake electrical gadgets. These goods are cheaper than the original ones and are usually bought in bulks. This way, they enter the main parts of Bhutan.”
A notification issued by the ministry of trade in Bhutan, directing shopkeepers to sell only approved and original electrical fittings has not yielded results.
A survey was conducted jointly by the Standard and Quality Control Division (SQCD) of the communication ministry of Bhutan and the Royal Bhutan Institute of Technology (RBIT) at Thimpu, Phuntsholing, Jaigaon and Siliguri for ten days, starting September 10 this year.
The results revealed that the counterfeit electrical gadgets manufactured by non-approved companies had captured a huge market in Bhutan, Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri.
According to senior officials of Jalpaiguri, both the countries were losing on revenue with the price of the original electrical goods being pulled down in the face of competition. The danger of accidents had also increased manifold as the fake gadgets do not carry any ISI certification.
“It is a serious problem. I will discuss the matter with the authorities of Bhutan in the next meeting of bordering districts. We will have to take pull the plug on the market. I have informed the government about it,” said Chakraborty.
