PRAYAGRAJ, Aug. 11 -- The legal metrology department imposed penalties totalling Rs 19.73 lakh on 383 traders across Prayagraj division for violations involving weights, measures and packaged commodities during inspection drives between April and July. Prayagraj recorded the highest penalties at Rs 11.70 lakh from 178 traders, followed by Fatehpur (Rs 4.08 lakh from 76), Pratapgarh (Rs 2.30 lakh from 73) and Kaushambi (Rs 1.65 lakh from 56).Assistant controller Arvind Kumar Yadav said inspection drives were conducted in Prayagraj, Kaushambi, Fatehpur and Pratapgarh between April and July this year. During the period, officials detected irregularities at 383 establishments. "The most common violations involved sweets being sold below the declared weight. Similar discrepancies were found at bakeries, grain stores and grocery outlets. In some instances, LPG cylinders were also found containing less gas than the quantity specified," Yadav said. Officials also checked weighing instruments and packaged commodities for mandatory declarations such as maximum retail price (MRP). Proceedings remain pending in 115 cases, while inspectors have been directed to continue regular inspections and raids....