400 QUINTAL
ADULTERATED PANCHRANGA PICKLE DESTROYED
Chandigarh 4 July, 2008
After targeting the synthetic milk and khoya mafia in the state,
the tasty pachranga achar is now under attack by Punjab health
authorities. In a major step taken towards checking the supply
of adulterated and unhygienic food items all over the state and
intensity the stir to nab the culprits involved in such deeds,
the Health department Punjab has destroyed and dumped fungus ridden
400 quintals of un-hygienically prepared pickles and murbba seized
during a raid from the Ganpati Food Products Pvt. Ltd Samana in
Patiala district in garbage dumping grounds at the outskirts of
Samana city.
Disclosing this here today, Prof. Lakhsmi Kanta Chawla, Health
Minister Punjab said that the premises of Ganpati Food Products
were raided by the Punjab health department and found the food
items stored in a large plastic water tanks. The entire stuff
was full of fungus.. Later 5 samples were collected and sent them
to a laboratory at Chandigarh, which found them to be adulterated
and not fit for human consumption. She further said that as per
the directions of the court the food items were publicly destroyed
and dumped in the garbage dumping grounds.
Adding further the minister said that government has already
taken a strict view of similar incidents occurring all over the
state. Such traders would not be allowed to play with the lives
of the people. They deserved stringent punishment for selling
un-hygienic and adulterated food products, said Prof. Chawla.
She also said that she has separately taken up the matter with
the CM Punjab to strengthen various laws to check adulteration
of food products. She said that adulteration of food product tantamount
to playing with the life of an individual. The Minister warned
the officers/official found colluding with the culprits of dire
consequences.
DRUGS WORTH 30 LAKHS SEIZED FROM LUDHIANA
Chandigarh July 4; In one of the biggest seizure of intoxicating
drugs in the state, the Punjab health department today seized
habit forming scheduled drugs worth Rs.3O Lakhs from the shop
and godowns of Pawan Medicos of Pindi street Ludhiana. During
a raid conducted by a team headed by Mr. Bhag Singh State Drug
Controller Punjab along with 9 drug inspectors of different districts
other than Ludhiana, the state was able to nab one of the biggest
supplier of drugs in the state. It may be added that with this
major haul, habit forming drugs worth Rs. 2 crore 50 lakhs have
been seized during various raids conducted by the Health Department
Punjab all over the state during last 6 months.
Disclosing this here today Prof.Lakshmi Kanta Chawla Health
and Family Welfare Minister Punjab said that during a recent raid
on the premises of Pawan Medicos two unlicensed godowns and one
shop had already been sealed and two different cases under section
18C of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act have been registered against
the shop owner besides a departmental action has also be initiated
against him amounting to even the cancellation of his license.
She further said that the drugs seized were being sold at the
prescription of the RMP and were used as intoxicants.
The minister said that a special team has been constituted to
explore the inter-state network of this firm and determine the
source of these drugs so that this evil could be nipped in the
bud. She said that the department has established a network in
the state to gather information about such nefarious activities
of the chemists and the system of exchanging information with
police department has also been established.
Seeking the cooperation of the public to tackle this menace,
the Minister sought information from the general public .She said
that the persons supplying information to the government would
be suitably rewarded. Praising the officers' instrumental in nabbing
the culprits, she said that the department would acknowledge their
contribution and same would be recorded in their service record
books. She has urged them to be more courageous and work with
full dedication
