A raid by Food Safety officials at the Food Corporation
of India (FCI) godown at Valiathura here on Thursday witnessed unruly
scenes when FCI employees and loading workers refused to let the
officials in. The raid could be conducted only after the Valiathura
police intervened.Both the Food Safety Department
and the police booked cases in connection with the incident and samples
were collected from the godown with the help of the police.The
cases were registered on charges of obstructing officials from
discharging their duties and under Section 62 of the Food Safety and
Standards Act. The raid was part of a State-wide
drive, triggered by ‘widespread’ complaints over the quality of
foodgrain supplied through the Public Distribution System of the State.
Ration shops, Maveli stores, Labham supermarkets, Nanma supermarkets,
Consumerfed stores, and FCI godowns were inspected by special squads led
by the respective District Food Safety Officer as part of the drive in
all 14 districts, an official release issued here said.On Thursday, 35 samples were collected from 46 ration shops, and 41 Maveli, Nanma, and Labham outlets.The samples will be sent for analysis. Punitive
action as per relevant sections of the Food Safety and Standards Act
will be taken wherever necessary, the release said. The
raids, according to Food Safety Commissioner Biju Prabhakar, will
continue and the focus will be on whether the foodgrain and items sold
in these outlets are stored in a proper manner and in hygienic
conditions.
Source:http://www.thehindu.com
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