Hyderabad: Telangana is lagging behind many other states in ensuring food safety and checking the menace of food adulteration.
The number of food inspectors or food safety officers is dismally low. At present, the number of designated officers in the entire state — having a population of 3.5 crore — is just 11, including three in GHMC.
This number pales in comparison to the similar staff in states like TN, Kerala, Karnataka etc. Even Northeastern states have more food inspectors than Telangana.
M. Padmanabha Reddy from Forum for Good Governance said that the government was yet to take concrete steps to instill fear in violators, who are resorting to adulteration of milk, oil and other food products.
“Whenever courts are admitting cases relating to milk adulteration or artificial ripening of fruits, officials are conducting raids and imposing fines. It should not be the case. The violators, who are playing with lives of citizens, must be jailed to instill a sense of fear among others,” he said.
He said the staff count is low because no recruitment was conducted for certified professionals in the last five years.
Sources said CM K. Chandrashekar Rao had given his nod to recruit food safety officers in GHMC and rest of the state. TSPSC would conduct an exam shortly.
