RANCHI: The scare of milk adulteration has created panic in Jharkhand. Four milk tankers belonging to Sudha Dairy which supplies over 2.5 lakh litres of milk daily to Jamshedpur, Bokaro, Ranchi, Dhanbad
and other centres in the state have been seized since 2011 for milk
adulteration. The food and adulteration department of the state has also
served notices on the brand for selling adulterated milk.
On Sunday two tankers, each containing 40,000 litres of milk, were seized from Ormanjhi locality by the Crime Investigation Department (CID) and local police after the drivers and helpers of the tankers were found pouring water from a road side hand pump into the milk tanker. As many as 15 Sudha Diary tankers carrying milk come to Ranchi from Bihar everyday.
K Saryu, officer in-charge of Ormanjhi police station, said: "An FIR has been lodged against nine persons in the milk adulteration case." Saryu said two persons arrested from the spot were mixing water with the milk in the tanker from a hand pump. Jharkhand food controller T P Burnwal said, "A team is carrying out investigations and samples have been sent for tests. Legal action would be taken against Sudha Dairy in case the milk samples are found to be adulterated."
The food and adulteration department has served notices on Sudha Dairy on previous occasions as well. "We have not received any report of chemical mixing in the milk so far," Burnwal added. It is, however, a challenge for department which has only seven food inspectors to keep a check on adulteration of milk. News of adulteration has shocked parents. "It ia a criminal act since we are totally dependent on the packaged milk," said Geeta Sharma, a mother. S R Mishra, general manager, Sudha Diary (Ranchi) said,
"A total of 15 milk tankers carry milk from Bihar to various destinations in Jharkhand as the state itself does not produce much milk. For the transport of milk we've hired agencies. We have also received complaints about adulteration by drivers of these tankers."
Drivers of these tankers have formed a nexus with line hotels located along the state highways.
"They break the hinge of the tanker cap and drain out the milk. The hinges are not of stainless steel and thus can be easily welded," said a source. To compensate for the loss of milk they pump water from hand pumps which are usually dirty, the source said. In 2011 officials of Sudha Dairy (Ranchi) had conducted raids to check the adulteration of milk. Former Sudha Dairy (Ranchi) general manager A K Singh had raided a place in Ramgarh last year.
The driver of the tanker, who was found pouring water into the tank containing milk had, however, managed to escape with the tanker. Sudha Dairy (Patna) MD Sudhir Kumar said, "We had cancelled licences of few of the agencies when we received complaints against them." However measures for quality control of the packaging unit in Ranchi ends there since there is no mechanism to check the quality of the milk which arrives here in these tankers. Kumar said a proper mechanism of sealing the tankers was in place at all the milk-collecting units in Bihar.If a packaging unit does not get sealed tankers, they can refuse to accept it," he added. Shakti Singh, physician said milk adulterated with tap water can cause diarrhea, typhoid and other water- borne diseases."If it is contaminated with che cicals, it can also damage to the liver and kidneys," he added.
The authorities acted after local residents alerted the distributor, Amul. The accused was caught in a joint operation mounted by the distributor and police officials. Empty pouches and packets were also found at Lingeyar's residence on Parel Tank Road.
On Sunday two tankers, each containing 40,000 litres of milk, were seized from Ormanjhi locality by the Crime Investigation Department (CID) and local police after the drivers and helpers of the tankers were found pouring water from a road side hand pump into the milk tanker. As many as 15 Sudha Diary tankers carrying milk come to Ranchi from Bihar everyday.
K Saryu, officer in-charge of Ormanjhi police station, said: "An FIR has been lodged against nine persons in the milk adulteration case." Saryu said two persons arrested from the spot were mixing water with the milk in the tanker from a hand pump. Jharkhand food controller T P Burnwal said, "A team is carrying out investigations and samples have been sent for tests. Legal action would be taken against Sudha Dairy in case the milk samples are found to be adulterated."
The food and adulteration department has served notices on Sudha Dairy on previous occasions as well. "We have not received any report of chemical mixing in the milk so far," Burnwal added. It is, however, a challenge for department which has only seven food inspectors to keep a check on adulteration of milk. News of adulteration has shocked parents. "It ia a criminal act since we are totally dependent on the packaged milk," said Geeta Sharma, a mother. S R Mishra, general manager, Sudha Diary (Ranchi) said,
"A total of 15 milk tankers carry milk from Bihar to various destinations in Jharkhand as the state itself does not produce much milk. For the transport of milk we've hired agencies. We have also received complaints about adulteration by drivers of these tankers."
Drivers of these tankers have formed a nexus with line hotels located along the state highways.
"They break the hinge of the tanker cap and drain out the milk. The hinges are not of stainless steel and thus can be easily welded," said a source. To compensate for the loss of milk they pump water from hand pumps which are usually dirty, the source said. In 2011 officials of Sudha Dairy (Ranchi) had conducted raids to check the adulteration of milk. Former Sudha Dairy (Ranchi) general manager A K Singh had raided a place in Ramgarh last year.
The driver of the tanker, who was found pouring water into the tank containing milk had, however, managed to escape with the tanker. Sudha Dairy (Patna) MD Sudhir Kumar said, "We had cancelled licences of few of the agencies when we received complaints against them." However measures for quality control of the packaging unit in Ranchi ends there since there is no mechanism to check the quality of the milk which arrives here in these tankers. Kumar said a proper mechanism of sealing the tankers was in place at all the milk-collecting units in Bihar.If a packaging unit does not get sealed tankers, they can refuse to accept it," he added. Shakti Singh, physician said milk adulterated with tap water can cause diarrhea, typhoid and other water- borne diseases."If it is contaminated with che cicals, it can also damage to the liver and kidneys," he added.
1 held for milk adulteration
MUMBAI: The Kalachowkie police on Sunday arrested a milkman for adulteration. The accused, Satish K Lingeyar (25), will be produced before the court on Monday, the police said.The authorities acted after local residents alerted the distributor, Amul. The accused was caught in a joint operation mounted by the distributor and police officials. Empty pouches and packets were also found at Lingeyar's residence on Parel Tank Road.
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