Uttarakhand: On the instructions of CM Dhami, the Food Department’s campaign against adulterated food items continues on the Chardham Yatra routes
On the instructions of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, even before the start of the Chardham Yatra, the Food Safety and Drug Administration Department had started a special campaign against adulterated food items. This campaign is currently continuing. 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 on the travel routes are being taken and tested. In this regard, Health Secretary and Commissioner Food Safety and Drug Administration Dr. R. Rajesh Kumar has given strict instructions to the officers that negligence in the campaign will not be tolerated at all. The Commissioner has given clear instructions that special care should be taken that no shopkeeper is able to sell adulterated goods, food items and fruits on the Chardham Yatra route. Dr. R Rajesh Kumar has instructed the departmental officers to run a campaign in Uttarkashi, Rudraprayag, Chamoli districts. 325 shops inspected, 155 samples sent for testing
Additional Commissioner Food Safety and Drug Administration Department Tajbar Singh Jaggi said that in continuation of the instructions of Commissioner Dr. R Rajesh Kumar, a special campaign is being run in Uttarkashi, Rudraprayag, Chamoli districts. Special monitoring is being done on adulterated food items on the Chardham Yatra routes. Strict legal action is being taken against shopkeepers selling adulterated or expired food items. The Food Department team 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. Strict action will be taken against the culprits after the investigation report does not come as per the standards. Additional Commissioner Tajbar Singh Jaggi said that till now we have registered a case against 6 shopkeepers selling adulterated goods and food items. Action is also underway against 03 other shopkeepers for selling adulterated goods. No culprit who plays with the health of the general public will be spared. He said that last year also the department had run a campaign during the Chardham Yatra.
500 samples taken from mobile testing van
Additional Commissioner Food Safety and Drug Administration Department Tajbar Singh Jaggi said that the team of mobile testing van inspected hotels, restaurants, dhabas along with food shops on the entire Yatra route and tested the samples. During this, more than 500 samples were taken. No adulteration was found in any of these samples. The Additional Commissioner said that currently the mobile testing van has been deployed on the Badrinath-Kedarnath Yatra route for testing the samples. Soon the mobile testing van will also be sent to Gangotri-Yumnotri 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 for testing the samples.
Awareness campaign run in collaboration with IEC
Additional Commissioner Food Safety and Drug Administration Department Tajbar Singh Jaggi said that even before the start of Chardham Yatra, the department had started a public awareness campaign in collaboration with IEC regarding adulterated food items. Meetings were held with local traders, dhaba operators, fruit sellers, medical store operators and they were made aware of the entire guideline. After which a lot of changes are being seen on the Yatra routes.
Toll free number for the general public
Additional Commissioner Food Safety and Drug Administration Department Tajbar Singh Jaggi said that toll free number 180018042 has also been issued for the general public. If any person gets information about any kind of adulteration or expired goods being sold, then he can register his complaint on the toll free number.
Campaign regarding adulterated fruits
Additional Commissioner Food Safety and Drug Administration Department Tajbar Singh Jaggi said that as per the instructions of Commissioner Dr. R. Rajesh Kumar, a campaign has been started against fruits containing banned calcium carbide. We have collected samples of various fruits and sent them to the laboratory for necessary tests. The Additional Commissioner said that on receiving complaints of ripening and colouring of fruits with carbide, a team of Food Safety and Drug Administration under the leadership of Garhwal Commissioner FDA Dr. R.S. Rawat conducted a surprise inspection of 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, 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. Colouring of fruits, especially watermelon, melon etc. was not found. The team included Designated Officer Headquarters Manish Samana, Senior Food Safety Officer Deoj Ramesh Singh, Mandi Sub Inspector etc. The Additional Commissioner said that this campaign against adulterated fruits is being run in the entire state along with the pilgrimage routes.
Expired goods destroyed in Vikasnagar/Chakrata
Additional Commissioner Food Safety and Drug Administration Department Tajbar Singh Jaggi informed that a joint team formed under the leadership of Deputy Commissioner Headquarters G.C. Kandwal is running a campaign in the travel routes and tourist places. This campaign is going on in Vikasnagar area of Dehradun district. The team inspected the quality of food items and kitchen, store 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 license, labeling condition and storage. Along with this, vehicles carrying special supplies were also checked. After this, the team inspected half a dozen establishments in Haripur, Kalsi market. 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 food businessman was warned. The team inspected about half a dozen resorts and hotel restaurants in Porwa in view of the tourist season. Food license was not found at some places and cleanliness was not found in the kitchen. For which notices were issued to 04 establishments. The team inspected wholesale/retail works/restaurants etc. in Chakrata market. And 02 samples were taken for testing by Senior Food Safety Officer Sanjay Tiwari from 02 establishments. Which were sent to the Government Laboratory Rudrapur for testing. After the report comes, strict action will be taken against the culprits. During the campaign, strict instructions were given to the hotel and restaurant operators not to use open food items, especially paneer, spices and edible oil and to bring quality tested food items in the production of food items. Deputy Commissioner Food Headquarters GC Kandwal, Senior Food Safety Officer, Vikasnagar/Chakrata Sanjay Tiwari, Yogendra Singh Negi and Sanjay Negi from FDA Vigilance were present in the action team. The said campaign will continue further.
