By Our Staff Reporter
Dehradun, 29 May: On the instructions of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, the Food Safety and Drug Administration Department had launched a special campaign against adulterated food items along the Char Dham Yatra route. Though the campaign had been launched even before the start of the Char Dham Yatra, this is still being carried out, the food safety department claims.
Teams have been formed under the leadership of Deputy Commissioner, Garhwal Division, Rajendra Singh Rawat and samples of food items being sold in hotels, restaurants and dhabas along the Yatra routes are being collected and tested. In this regard, Health Secretary and Commissioner, Food Safety and Drug Administration, Dr R Rajesh Kumar has issued strict instructions to the officers that negligence in the campaign will not be tolerated. He has directed that special care should be taken to ensure that no shopkeeper is able to sell adulterated or expired goods, food items, or fruits on the Char Dham Yatra route. Dr Kumar has instructed the departmental officers to run a special campaign in Uttarkashi, Rudraprayag and Chamoli districts.
Additional Commissioner, Food Safety and Drug Administration Department, Tajbar Singh Jaggi has claimed that in continuation of the instructions of Commissioner Dr R Rajesh Kumar, a special campaign is being run in Uttarkashi, Rudraprayag and Chamoli districts. Special monitoring is being done of food items on the Char Dham Yatra routes. Strict legal action is being taken against shopkeepers selling adulterated or expired food items. The team of the Food Department under the leadership of Deputy Commissioner, Garhwal Division, Rajendra Singh Rawat has inspected 325 shops so far. In this, 155 samples were found suspicious which have been sent to the lab for testing. Jaggi claimed that strict action will be taken against the culprits after the investigation report does not come as per the standards. Jaggi added that, till now, the department has registered a case against 6 shopkeepers selling adulterated goods and food items. Action is also underway against 3 other shopkeepers for selling adulterated goods.
Jaggi stated that the team of mobile testing vans is inspecting hotels, restaurants, dhabas and food shops on the entire Yatra route and testing the samples. More than 500 samples have been taken so far. No adulteration was found in any of these samples. The Additional Commissioner informed that currently the mobile testing van has been deployed on the Badrinath-Kedarnath Yatra route. Soon, the mobile testing van will also be sent on Gangotri-Yumunotri Yatra route for testing the samples. The Additional Commissioner said that a Deputy Commissioner and a Food Safety Officer are deployed in the mobile van to collect and test the samples.
Jaggi added that even before the start of the Char Dham Yatra, the department in collaboration with IEC had started a public awareness campaign regarding adulterated food items. Meetings were held with local traders, dhaba operators, fruit sellers, medical store operators and they were made aware of the complete guidelines. After which a lot of changes are being seen on the travel routes.
He said that the toll free number 180018042 has also been issued for the general public for registering any complaint about any expired or adulterated food item being sold along the Yatra routes and the state.
Jaggi added that, as per the instructions of Commissioner Dr Kumar, a campaign has been started against fruits which have been ripened using banned calcium carbide. Samples of various fruits, which are usually ripened with Calcium Carbide are being collected and sent to the laboratory for testing. On receiving a complaint of ripening and colouring of fruits with carbide, a team of Food Safety and Drug Administration under the leadership of Dr RS Rawat conducted a surprise inspection at Niranjanpur Sabzi Mandi, Nehru Colony Sabzi Mandi, Araghar Sabzi Mandi and 6 Number Pulia Sabzi Mandi. The team took 9 samples of watermelon, melon, papaya, mango and banana and sent them to the laboratory for testing. The banned carbide was not found to be used to ripen fruits like mango, banana, papaya etc. On the spot, ethylene was found to be used to ripen fruits. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, New Delhi has certified ripening of fruits with ethylene. No artificial colouring of fruits, especially watermelon, melon, etc., was found, he claimed.
A joint team formed under the leadership of Deputy Commissioner, Headquarters, GC Kandwal is running a campaign on the travel routes and tourist places. This campaign is also being carried out in Vikasnagar area of Dehradun district. The team inspected the quality of food items and kitchens, stores in the establishments of wholesale food sellers, hotels, restaurants, resorts etc. Food manufacturers / retailers located in Barotiwala, Landha Road of Vikasnagar were inspected under the provisions of Food Safety Standards Act 2006. The joint team also conducted a surprise inspection of the edible oil manufacturing unit and checked the licence, labelling condition and storage. About 50 packets and bottles of expired spices and soft drinks were destroyed on the spot in Daily Needs Store located in Kalsi. Along with this, the businessman was warned. The team inspected about half a dozen resorts and hotel restaurants in Porwa in view of the tourist season. Food licensc was not found at some places and cleanliness was not found in the kitchen. For which notices were issued to 4 establishments. The team inspected wholesale/retail works/restaurants, etc., in Chakrata market. Two samples were taken for examination by Senior Food Safety Officer Sanjay Tiwari from 2 establishments and sent to Rudrapur Laboratory for testing.