Tension as FCI staff prevent officials from entering godown

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.