In Sangrur, officials feed mangoes to stray cattle

Parvesh Sharma

Tribune News Service

Sangrur, June 19

After confiscating chemically treated mangoes from the Bhawanigarh vegetable market under the “Tandarust Punjab” mission, health officials reportedly made stray cattle eat those, inviting sharp criticism from locals.

Some residents wrote to state Health Minister Brahm Mohindra and other senior officials, demanding strict action.

“Such mangoes are not only harmful for humans, but animals too. It is strange that the officials threw all confiscated mangoes in front of stray animals. Even they can develop serious health problems. We have written to the authorities,” said Purshotam Singh Phaguwala, general secretary of the United Akali Dal.

As per sources, a team of the Health Department, including Assistant Commissioner, Food, Sangrur, Ravinder Garg, Food Safety Officer Charnjit Singh and other employees checked mangoes in the vegetable market. They found that a major chunk, around 200 kg, was treated with Chinese chemicals.

Instead of destroying the stock, they threw it where stray animals were sitting. “The authorities should take action against them to prevent the recurrence of such acts,” said Gurwinder Singh, a labourer.

Some doctors informed The Tribune that the chemically treated mangoes could cause cancer, liver infection and other serious health problems. “We did not throw the fruit in front of cows and bulls, but our officials asked labourers to dump it in a bin. I have no idea if the animals ate those,” said Ravinder Garg, Assistant Commissioner, Food Safety, Sangrur.