GHMC failed to maintain surveillance
Representational image
Hyderabad: The food inspectors of Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) have lifted only three samples of milk to check adulteration in the entire year in the city and surrounding areas. While Cyberabad cops unearthed an adulteration racket which is using urea to make synthetic milk, GHMC failed to maintain surveillance.
The Institute of Preventive Medicine, another agency at the state level to check adulteration, says their focus is on carbide use on fruits and not on milk as they are short-staffed.
GHMC food inspector Balaji Raju said, “We have lifted two samples in September and one sample on November 5 to check adulteration. We were told that IPM has lifted a few samples for surveillance. Earlier, in 2013 and 2014, we lifted 32 samples and found eight of them were adulterated and booked criminal cases which are in various stages. Apart from synthetic milk, non-maintenance of cold storage is also leading to bad dairy products.”
“There are only four food inspectors in the entire GHMC and the state has recruited 26 more. They will soon be shortly inducted. Our focus is on fruits,” the officer added. An official of Institute of Preventive Medicine said, “We need more enforcement staff to monitor various food items. Right now, the focus is on Calcium Carbide use in fruits as per the directives of the High Court in a PIL. All items can’t be attended to simultaneously with inadequate staff.”
Download the all new Deccan Chronicle app for Android and iOS to stay up-to-date with latest headlines and news stories in politics, entertainment, sports, technology, business and much more from India and around the world.
( Source : deccan chronicle )
Next Story
