Early Times Report
SRINAGAR, June 11: A day after Jammu and Kashmir High Court directed the State Government to set up Food Testing Laboratories in Jammu and Srinagar immediately and make them functional by July 11, the Government Saturday asserted that it is already on job and necessary measures are being taken in this regard.
The Division bench after hearing a Public Interest Litigation against food adulteration has said that before next date of hearing, two laboratories one at Srinagar and one at Jammu would be made functional by the government.
Talking to Early Times over phone Consumer Affairs Minister Chowdary Zulfikar said that the government is already on job to construct two food testing Laboratories one in Jammu and another in Kashmir division so as to test the quality of ration. "Though we have not received any directions from the High Court yet, but I can say that the government is in the process for the construction of the food testing laboratories," the minister said.
He said that the government is committed to curb the food adulteration in the state.
"I have directed the field officials to regularly collect samples of various items and get these checked. We have intensified surveillance across the state and initiated a cross-verification of surveillance work by sending food safety officials outside their jurisdictions for inspection," the minister maintained.
It is important to mention here that sold food items like milk products, desi ghee, tea, spices like turmeric, chillies and black pepper have high adulteration levels in the state.
The adulteration percentage in these food products has been on the rise during past several years.
Time and again reports of food samples collected by the concerned authorities from across the state has indicated that adulteration of milk, milk products like desi ghee, edible oils, pulses had witnessed a steep rise, causing concern among the common people.
Similarly, mustard oil is considered to be adulterated with crude rice bran and household spices like turmeric were found to be mixed with cheap rice bran plus the addition of carcinogenic non-permitted colours.
It is to mention here that the State High Court Friday directed Government to make food testing laboratories at Srinagar and Jammu functional by providing required manpower under Food Safety and Standard Act of 2006 by July 11. "Respondent State has to forthwith initiate action in setting up testing laboratories, as directed by the Court, one at Srinagar and one at Jammu. We hope and trust that before next date, two laboratories would be made functional," a division bench of the court comparing Justice M H Attar and Justice A M Magrey said while hearing a suo-moto PIL. |
