250 offenders identified across state

Aparna Banerji

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, August 12

While the food and drug administration has created a list of 250 offenders at the state level whose premises will be raided, there is no intimation regarding the same to district units so far. Though spurious milk testing in Jalandhar has been a vital part of the Tandarust Punjab mission, milk samples tested so far in the district have only found to be substandard, but none of them unfit for human consumption as per the Health Department.

While the identities of the 250 offenders across the state have not been disclosed yet, sources in the department said in the days to come surprise checks by the department could be expected to catch any the culprits red-handed.

The state government has also declared to ensure the culprits do not go scot-free and hand-held milk testing kits will also be used by officials to nail the offenders.

As many as 15 samples of milk and milk products have failed ever since the Tandarust Punjab mission started in the district. While as many as 46 samples were taken in June and July, of these about 15 samples of milk and milk products have come out substandard. The reports of some of these samples taken in July are yet to be received.

Meanwhile, of the 115 samples of milk and milk products taken from the district from January until June, as many as 41 samples have been found substandard.

Notably, while the units, from which samples turned out unsafe for human consumption are liable to jail term, including life imprisonment, — depending on the gravity of the adulteration – samples which turn out unsafe are liable to be challaned with a fine up to Rs 5 lakh.

Sources in the Health Department said since the samples were substandard, the cases would be put up at the ADC court.

Dr Balwinder Singh, district health officer, said: “We don’t have any intimation from the state so far on any of these shady units. If any of these fall in Jalandhar, these are likely to be tested by teams from Chandigarh or Amritsar directly since district units are not being intimated on these outlets on the list. But with the festival season approaching, the district Health Department will be intensifying raids on units producing milk and milk samples. In the samples found substandard so far, only fat content was lesser than the requisite value. Many milk units have also been storing skimmed milk. Raids on any such units will also be conducted since putting such agents into the milk is not permitted. Meanwhile, we also have plans to employ the services of over one department such as the Dairy Department to intensify the raids and nab the culprits.”

15 samples fail test under Tandarust Punjab

As many as 15 samples of milk and milk products have failed ever since the Tandarust Punjab mission started in the district. While as many as 46 samples were taken in June and July, about 15 samples of milk and milk products have come out substandard. The reports of some of these samples taken in July are yet to be received.