Sale of spurious desi ghee goes unchecked in Jagraon

Jaswant Shetra

Jagraon, October 21

In absence of effective vigil by the Health Department authorities, the sale of spurious desi ghee has been going unabated in the Jagraon area.

There are many wholesale shops in the town where spurious desi ghee is being sold. Many wholesale and retail shopkeepers in the Old Grain Market and Nehru Market areas are involved in the illegal sale of spurious desi ghee. Such shopkeepers have been playing with the health of the general public to earn some quick bucks.

According to sources, there are more than half a dozen shopkeepers, who are preparing and selling adulterated desi ghee. These shopkeepers are well connected and enjoy support of some local politicians. Therefore, no action is taken against them by the authorities concerned, claimed the sources.

Moreover, these shopkeepers do not store spurious ghee in their shops. Instead they keep it stocked in their godowns situated in the nearby areas to keep the authorities at bay. Whenever the need arises, they supply the required amount of adulterated ghee to customers.

While the price of genuine desi ghee is around Rs 400 per kg, the adulterated desi ghee costs shopkeepers Rs 200 per kg. Shopkeepers, who are involved in this illegal trade, have been making hefty profits by selling adulterated ghee.

“To prepare spurious desi ghee, we mix refined oil in dalda ghee and then add essence, which makes the odour of adulterated ghee almost similar to that of genuine and pure desi ghee. It is quite difficult to differentiate between spurious and pure desi ghee,” said an employee of a local shopkeeper, involved in making spurious desi ghee.

Once adulterated ghee is prepared, workers paste different labels, which shopkeepers get printed, on containers. Generally, spurious desi ghee is supplied to shopkeepers of the rural areas.

It is also learnt that a majority of shopkeepers in the rural areas sell adulterated desi ghee to the people as pure ghee. Moreover, the use of spurious ghee is quite common among caterers arranged by the people for preparing dishes during wedding parties and other such functions.

Senior Medical Officer (SMO), Jagraon, Dr Sukhjiwan Kakkar, said, “Teams of the Health Department carry out checking on regular basis to detect sale of spurious ghee.” He said, “We conduct regular raids to check such practice. So far, no one has complained to us about sale of spurious ghee by shopkeepers. Nobody will be allowed to play with the health of the people. Strict action will be taken against shopkeepers, who are found involved in this illegal practice.”

The illegal trade of adulterated ghee

• Many wholesale and retail shopkeepers in the Old Grain Market and Nehru Market areas are involved in the illegal sale of spurious desi ghee. 
• These shopkeepers are well connected and enjoy support of some local politicians. Therefore, no action is taken against them by the authorities concerned, claim sources. 
• n These shopkeepers do not store spurious ghee in their shops. Instead they stock it in their godowns situated in the nearby areas to keep the authorities at bay and avoid legal action.
• While the price of genuine desi ghee is around Rs 400 per kg, the adulterated desi ghee costs shopkeepers Rs 200 per kg. 
• To prepare spurious desi ghee, refined oil is mixed in dalda ghee and then essence is added, which makes the odour of adulterated ghee similar to that of pure desi ghee.