Confusion over Diwali date has owners of sweet shops edgy

A confusion over the date on which Diwali is to be celebrated this year upset milk product dealers and sweetmeat makers in this part of Malwa, once known for main supplier of khoya, paneer and sweets in the state.

Apprehending diminished demand for their products, they said spreading of the festivity over more days could prompt people to buy non-perishable bakery products or dry fruits against milk products, which have less shelf life.

They cited ‘propaganda’ on use of adulterated and substandard milk products for preparing sweets as another reason behind the apprehended bleak business.

Assistant Food Commissioner Harpreet Kaur said samples of almost all eatables were being collected and sent for testing to laboratory. Punitive action would be taken against the owners and managers of units if samples were found unsafe and substandard.

Office-bearers of halwai unions and dairy owners’ associations at Malerkotla, Amargarh and Ahmedgarh expressed hope that overall turnover would not be much lesser than corresponding period during previous years.

“Though we have been facing issues related with skilled workers due to irregular and uncertain orders, we hope that cumulative sales at the end of season will be almost like previous years,” said Chanan Chaudhary, president of a halwai union in the district.

Bhoj Raj Sharma, owner of a milk product dealership and manufacturer of sweets, said his firm was yet to receive bulk orders for boxes of various sweets for distribution as Diwali gifts by traders, contractors and factory owners.

Brushing aside alleged false propaganda about spurious and adulterated milk products, Sharma claimed that none of the samples of sweets or milk products collected from the region by teams of the Food Safety Department in the past years were reported as unsafe.

“Unfortunately, none of the agencies ever highlighted the results of samples of eatables, which normally takes months to arrive. On the other hand, much hue and cry is created when an inspection is conducted,” said Sharma.