West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari voiced concern over rising prices of essential goods in Kolkata’s retail markets on Tuesday. Speaking at the launch of Consumer Protection Week outside Hogg Market, he said sugar and vegetables had become more expensive and questioned why rice prices were rising when rice is produced in the state.

Adhikari said the state’s consumer protection department had previously been neglected and described the week-long programme as an effort to publicise and expand awareness of a law effective before 2019. He said authorities were taking action against cheating consumers through artificial colouring and manipulation of weighing scales. He warned that artificial colours used to make vegetables and fish appear fresh were poisonous, and said banned colours were also being used in sweets for profit.

He said some police officers, consumer officials or food inspectors could be involved in such practices. Adhikari also raised concerns about fraud in flat sales and referred to a New Town search conducted 10 days earlier, where 120 people were allegedly taking money through false food-delivery app bookings without supplying products. He said both consumers and sellers needed protection and awareness.