Hyderabad: Apart from issuing licences, the food safety department officials do not conduct any raids in Hyderabad, although it is a part of their duties. That job seems to have been left to the police, who occasionally bust food adulteration rackets.
Senior police officials say the magnitude of adulteration activities is much more higher in the city now due to lack of proper enforcement. The adulteration gangs and owners of roadside food joints, who use adulterated products, continue to thrive in the city because of the lack of regular raids.
Food safety officials say they cannot conduct regular raids because they face a staff crunch. “There are only three food inspectors to cover the entire city. It is not humanly possible for them to cover every nuke and corner of the city,” said a source in the food safety department.
The city police has now taken up the additional task of cracking down on these rackets. “They (food inspectors) seek our help now. Since adulteration is widespread, it is important that we conduct regular raids. We are chalking out a plan to keep a constant vigil,” said Commissioner’s Task Force DCP B. Limba Reddy. One of the major drawbacks in the enforcement is offenders getting bail easily soon after their arrest.
