Juice concentrate stock goes missing from HPMC plant

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Discrepancy pointed out by internal panel

–A report pertaining to this missing stock was submitted on June 30 by a three-member committee headed by the Additional General Manager to the Managing Director, Himachal Pradesh Horticulture Produce Marketing and Processing Corporation.

–As per the report, as against a stock of 1,210.64 MT, 18.5 MT stock (amounting to about Rs 20 lakh) has been found missing.

Ambika Sharma

Tribune News Service

Solan, July 13

A stock of 18.5 metric tonne (MT) of apple juice concentrate has been found missing from the Parwanoo-based Himachal Pradesh Horticulture Produce Marketing and Processing Corporation (HPMC) plant in the annual stocks compiled up till March 31.

A report pertaining to this missing stock was submitted on June 30 by a three-member committee headed by the Additional General Manager to the Managing Director (MD). As per the report, as against a stock of 1,210.64 MT, 18.5 MT, amounting to about Rs 20 lakh, has been found missing.

Following this revelation, MD Rajeshwar Goyal has sought a detailed report from the plant in-charge within seven days.

He said, “Stocks of all HPMC plants are compiled annually. A three-member committee, which physically verified the stock of apple juice concentrate at the Parwanoo plant, found 18.5 MT stock missing.”

“A detailed report pertaining to the variation has been sought from the plant head soon. Two officials from the Shimla head office have also been sent to the plant to look into it and further action will be taken as per the findings of the report.”

Though officials in the HPMC stated that a variation of 1 per cent was at times registered while geometrically evaluating the stock, a variation of 18.5 MT was a huge amount.

Though the variation has been revealed by an internal committee, the disappearance of this huge amount of apple juice concentrate has brought the working of the Parwanoo plant under the scanner.

Notably, apple juice concentrate is among the most popular products of the HPMC. Apart from having dedicated consumers in India, the product has made its way into the international market such as America, Europe and Middle East. Additionally, many reputed brands of juices and even baby food have been using it as an ingredient in their products.