Minister calls for strict action in food adulteration cases

Minister for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Rajesh Nagar today issued directions to officials concerned to initiate strict action against people involved in food adulteration. He said the sale of adulterated food products in the market needed to be stopped.

The minister was chairing the District Public Relations and Grievance Redressal Committee meeting in Kurukshetra on Wednesday.

As many as 14 complaints were listed for the meeting, of which seven were resolved while the remaining were kept pending.

While listening to a complaint related to adulterated 'paneer' being prepared in factories, the minister directed Food Safety Officer Amit Kumar to take action against people involved in preparing adulterated products. He informed the minister that samples had been sent to food testing laboratory for analysis and action would be taken on the basis of the report.

Minister Rajesh Nagar said, “People involved in food adulteration will not be spared and they can’t be allowed to play with the lives of people. If the samples are found unsafe, strict legal action will be initiated against the guilty. A fine of up to Rs 10 lakh can be imposed in such cases.”

In a complaint related to drinking water at Umri village, the minister directed the Deputy Commissioner to get a tubewell installed by the Panchayat Department to provide potable water to four families at Guraya farm.

While listening to an unlisted complaint, the minister issued directions to register an FIR against the owner of a private hospital over a financial dispute. Besides, he called for a show-cause notice to the Executive Engineer of the Public Works Department for remaining absent in the meeting without information.

In another complaint, the minister issued directions to register a case against a person at Dhurali village for allegedly failing to remove encroachment from a piece of land.

In a matter related to illegal possession on panchayat land at Bir Kalwa village, minister Rajesh Nagar directed the District Development and Panchayat Officer (DDPO) to visit the site and get the encroachment removed.

The minister called for the constitution of a committee under the Sub-Divisional Magistrate to look into the issue of damaged electricity poles and non-installation of power cables in Pehowa. He directed the City Magistrate to look into a case related to a liquor vend near Lalu Colony and submit report in 10 days. If any liquor vend is found in operation, action would be initiated against the official concerned, he said.

Speaking to mediapersons, the minister said, “Of 14 cases, seven have been filed while among the remaining seven cases, one is pending in a court while directions have been issued for the remaining six. The Haryana Government is giving MSP on 24 crops to the farmers in the state and has also given the highest amount of compensation to farmers in the country for crop loss. The Punjab Government should also ensure that MSP is given to farmers.”

Deputy Commissioner Neha Singh, Superintendent of Police Varun Singla, former Minister of State Subhash Sudha, BJP district chief Sushil Rana and several other officials and BJP leaders were also present during the meeting.