47 veggie markets inspected in state

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 14

Under Tandarust Punjab Mission, a host of teams, including those constituted at divisional, district and at market committee levels, conducted surprise checks in 47 fruit and vegetable markets across the state today, said KS Pannu, Director, Tandrust Punjab Mission.

He said efforts were afoot to improve the quality of food being sold in the market.

He said around 35.68 quintals of fruits and vegetables were found to be rotten and were destroyed on the spot.

“We have been conducting regular drives in Punjab and it has been observed that the use of certain chemicals like calcium carbide to artificially ripen fruits has considerably reduced. In fact, it is negligible and the frequent inspections are acting as a deterrent,” he said.

Around 1.7 quintals of vegetables in Sirhind were found unfit for human consumption, 2.6 quintals fruits and vegetables in Bassi Pathana, 2.1 quintals in Patiala, 2.5 quintals of vegetables at Bhawanigarh, 1 quintal vegetables in Kharar, 1.8 quintal fruits and vegetables in Sunam and 1.2 quintal vegetables in Malerkotla.

Besides, 4 quintal vegetables at Rampura Phool, 1.87 quintal fruits at Abohar, 2.85 quintal fruits and vegetables at Mansa, .5 quintal at Tarn Taran, 1.05 quintal at Batala, .5 quintal fruit and vegetable in Amritsar and .8 quintal fruit and vegetable in Jalandhar was found unfit for consumption.