| Tamarind meant for industrial use, openly sold for human consumption | | Govt authorities in deep slumber | |  EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, Mar 6: Under the nose of government authorities, the retail shop owners across Jammu province have been selling the Tamarind, which is meant for industrial use, to common customers, jeopardizing their health.
The retail shop owners and departmental stores across Jammu province have been selling the packets of Tamarind, on which it is clearly written that the product is for industrial use.
On a packet of 200 grams of Tamarind, the disclaimer reads, “For Industrial use, Utensil Washing and cleaning only. Note: This product is not meant for human consumption”.
The retail shop owners have been wittingly selling the product for human consumption as the product is cheaper for the shop owners in comparison to the Tamarind meant for human consumption. “When I asked for Tamarind, the shop owner hands over Tamarind, which was meant for industrial use but when I enquired, the shop owners very confidently said that all type of tamarind packets are meant for industrial use and there is no such Tamarind, which is for human consumption”, a customer said, adding that the shop owner gave an excuse that when the Tamarind was plucked from the trees, it fell down and got adulterated due to which it was written on the packets that it was meant for industrial use.
Sources said that the Tamarind meant for human consumption was not much costly than the Tamarind meant for industrial use but margin of the shop keepers was less in selling the Tamarind, exclusively meant for humans. “To gain much profit these shopkeepers have been selling such Tamarind”, the official said, adding that by selling an industrial product for human consumption, these shopkeepers have been virtually jeopardizing the health of common masses.
This practice of shopkeepers has been going on for the last many years and the concerned departments have been apprised time and again by people but for no avail. “It is beyond comprehension as whether the government officials have been waiting for something fatal after which action would be taken”, the official sources said, adding that Lieutenant Governor administration should take cognizance of the matter and prevent these shopkeepers from such illegal activities. |
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