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Food Safety & Standards Act
Almost year on, enforcement still a far cry
Muktsar, May 1
While the state government implemented the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, on August 5 last year, its actual implementation is still a distant reality.

Troubled times
Farmers facing problems due to shortage of gunny bags
Ferozepur, May 1
Notwithstanding the tall claims of the state government regarding the smooth procurement of the wheat crop, the farmers are facing problems as their produce is lying in the open in the mandis due to an acute shortage of gunny bags.

Delay in releasing water in Fazilka canal irks cotton farmers
Fazilka, May 1
Resentment prevails among the farmers over the delay by the canal department in releasing water in the non-perennial eastern canals in the Fazilka area.

Flesh trade racket busted in Fazilka
Fazilka, May 1
City police has busted a flesh trade racket in a hotel situated on the first floor of a sweets shop near the local bus stand today in the evening and arrested three couples.

Food Safety & Standards Act
Almost year on, enforcement still a far cry
Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Muktsar, May 1
While the state government implemented the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, on August 5 last year, its actual implementation is still a distant reality.

In Muktsar district, not even a single shop, vend, milkman or any other business establishment dealing in or making food products, has been registered under the Act. In addition, no one has procured the licence so far.

As per the information, all shopkeepers, rehriwalas, vendors, milkmen and the owners of business establishments with an annual turnover of below Rs 12 lakh were told to get registered under the Act within a year of its implementation after paying Rs 100 every year. But nearly nine months have passed and not even a single person has registered under the Act.

Similarly, not even a single shopkeeper with an annual turnover of above Rs 12 lakh, has procured or applied for the licence so far.

When contacted, Dr Gurdeep Singh Bhullar, Civil Surgeon, Muktsar, accepted the fact, saying, "As per the official figures, no shop or vend has been registered under the Act. Similarly, no one has procured the licence so far."

Speaking about the reason behind it, Dr Bhullar said, "Earlier, we were busy with other things, which caused some delay. But now, the officials concerned have been given instructions to spread awareness among the people and ask them to immediately register their business establishments under the Act and procure licence failing which they will be penalised."

He further said that only three months were left in the stipulated time period. So, they had started conducting meetings with people coming under the purview of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.

The Civil Surgeon also pointed out the shortage of staff was a reason why the Act could not be implemented. "There is no permanent food security officer in the district and the official holding the charge of Barnala district has been given the additional charge of Muktsar," said Dr Bhullar.

It is pertinent to mention here that the Food Safety and Standards Act, which replaced the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, was implemented to make food adulteration a more serious offence and the punishment more stringent.

Troubled times
Farmers facing problems due to shortage of gunny bags
Anirudh Gupta

Ferozepur, May 1
Notwithstanding the tall claims of the state government regarding the smooth procurement of the wheat crop, the farmers are facing problems as their produce is lying in the open in the mandis due to an acute shortage of gunny bags.

The windy weather coupled with sporadic spells of rains has also been giving the farmers anxious moments, which has added to their woes.

An interaction with a cross-section of the farmers and commission agents in the district revealed that there was a shortage of gunny bags in the district due to which the lifting of wheat has also suffered.

Resenting the arrangements made by the government agencies for the procurement, Avtar Singh, a local farmer, said the government should have been pro-active in making these arrangements in advance.

In Mallanwala, the farmers alleged that no official from any procurement agency has visited them for the past one week. Besides, the overcast sky has also made them feel vulnerable. "Already, much damage has been done to my crops," rued Gurdev Singh.

Even the commission agents are feeling the heat due to shortage of gunny bags and poor arrangements for lifting.

Nand Kishore, president, Arhtiya Association, said there was shortage of almost 10,000 gunny bags which has affected the smooth procurement of wheat in the district.

Deputy Commissioner S. Karuna Raju said the administration was making efforts to overcome the shortage of gunny bags.

He said till date, around 5.6 lakh MT of wheat has been procured. However, only 53 per cent lifting has been done.

Some farmers were also not happy with the payments which they said were being delayed.

Delay in releasing water in Fazilka canal irks cotton farmers
Praful Chander Nagpal

Fazilka, May 1
Resentment prevails among the farmers over the delay by the canal department in releasing water in the non-perennial eastern canals in the Fazilka area. This is despite the fact that the optimum sowing period for all variety of cotton is from April 15 to May 15, but the canals are completely dry at present. The sowing time is running out.

"A cotton grower is totally dependent on canal-based water for irrigating the plants which need moisture but not water for three to four weeks after the first irrigation. On the contrary, the heavy deep bore water damages the plant. It is because of negligence on the part of the department because of which it failed to release the water on one pretext or the other," alleged a progressive farmer, Surinder Kumar Ahuja, of village Karnikhera.

Officials sources said the delay in cleaning the non-perennial canals is the main reason for not releasing the water. The cleanliness drive which could have been started about two months earlier, has been initiated recently causing delay in the sowing of the popular Bt cotton variety and the traditional cotton crop (desi kapas).

Notably, desi kapas is cultivated only in 178 hectares of land in Fazilka block which is used for domestic purposes like making quilts etc.

"Besides the delay in beginning the cleanliness drive, the delay in the construction of a bridge over the eastern canal near village Suhelewala in Jalalabad sub-division is another reason. The department would be able to release the water only after 10 days or so," said Amarjit Sharma, SDO (Canal), Fazilka.

"Normally, water is released in non-perennial canals around April 10. But inordinate delay has hit the farmers as besides the apathy of the canal department officials, the inclement weather too has increased the worries of the cotton growers," said Prem Babbar, an expert on agriculture.

"A relatively dry spell and temperature around 40 degree Celsius is conducive for cotton plants. During the present weather, the plant becomes prone to sucking pests like mealy bug, white fly and citrus tsyilla," said another progressive farmer and agriculture expert, Satish Dhingra.

The farmers have already purchased Bt cotton seed but the canal department has left them bewildered whether to sow the seed or wait till the release of water.

Flesh trade racket busted in Fazilka
Our Correspondent

Fazilka, May 1
City police has busted a flesh trade racket in a hotel situated on the first floor of a sweets shop near the local bus stand today in the evening and arrested three couples.

The couples and the proprietor of the hotel, Daulat Ram, have been booked under the Prevention of Immoral Traffic Act, 1956.

Fazilka DSP, Sukhdev Singh Brar, said the incident took place at around 6.30 pm when the police party cordoned off the hotel after a tip-off. The couple started running for cover when the police party tried to nab them.

“We raided the place after we received complaints followed by specific information and caught the couples in a compromising position,” said Fazilka city police station in-charge, Surinder Singh.

The customers were being charged between Rs 300-Rs 400 depending upon their profile.

The raid created panic in the area near the bus stand.

“The police are trying to find out how many persons were involved and who was running the racket,” said Investigating Officer Surinder Singh.

When this correspondent visited the city police station, it was found that the women who had been nabbed were weeping and appealing to the police personnel to release them.

On the other hand, sources said that local MLA Surjit Kumar Jyani had received repeated complaints in the box fixed outside his office in this regard and had directed the police to take stern action against the immoral activity.