LUDHIANA: As a drive has already been underway to check use of chemicals for artificial ripening of fruits, the Punjab Mandi Board, health and horticulturedepartments have taken an initiative to spread awareness among all those associated with the business.
A seminar was organized in new vegetable market near Jalandhar bypass which was attended by more than 80 people who directly deal in fruits and vegetable business.
Punjab Mandi Board’s project director Gurinder Pal Singh Randhawa talked about the ban on calcium carbide, a harmful chemical mostly used in artificial ripening of fruits. Further, Dr B V C Mahajan from PAU made them aware of the use of ethylenegas.
Horticulture development officer Dr Harmel Singh informed participants about subsidy being offered to set up cold storage under the national horticulture mission.
District health officer Dr Andesh Kang explained them in detail about the various aspects of Food Safety Act and steps being taken by the department. She said the department has also destroyed huge quantity of unnaturally ripened fruits recently in this checking drive and collected the samples.
She said this drive would be continued in the coming days and stern action would be taken against the traders, who are indulging in the practice of ripening the fruits artificially by using chemicals.
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