சென்னை உயர் நீதிமன்றம் உத்தரவு லாரியில் தண்ணீர் விற்பனை செய்ய அரசிடம் அனுமதி பெற வேண்டும்

சென்னை,செப்.24:

தண்ணீர் லாரி மூலம் விற்பனை செய்ய அரசிடம் அனுமதி பெறவேண்டும் என்று உயர்நீதிமன்றம் உத்தரவிட்டுள்ளது.

புதிய திருப்பூர் பகுதி முன்னேற்ற கம்பெனி லிமிடெட் நிறுவனம் சென்னை ஐகோர்ட்டில் தாக்கல் செய்த மனுவில்,‘திருப்பூரில் லாரிகள் மூலம் குடிநீரை பொதுமக்களுக்கும், தொழில்நிறுவனங்களுக்கும் விற்பனை செய்து வந்தோம். திடீரென்று அரசு அதிகாரிகள் எங்கள் வியாபாரத்தில் குறுக்கீடு செய்து குடிநீர் லாரிகள் எடுத்தால் நிலத்தடி நீர் பாதிக்கும். எனவே லாரிகள் மூலம் குடிநீர் எடுத்து விற்க கூடாது என்று உத்தரவிட்டனர். இது தவறானது. இந்த உத்தரவை ரத்து செய்ய வேண்டும் என கூறப்பட்டிருந்தது.

இந்த வழக்கை தனி நீதிபதி விசாரித்து, லாரிகள் மூலம் தண்ணீர் விற்பனை செய்யலாம். அதை அரசு தடுக்க கூடாது என்று தீர்ப்பு கூறினார்.

இதை எதிர்த்து தமிழக அரசு சென்னை உயர்நீதிமன்றத்தில் அப்பீல் செய்தது. அந்த அப்பீல் வழக்கில், குடிநீர் லாரிகள் மூலம் எடுத்து விற்பனை செய்தால்நிலத்தடி நீர் பாதிக்கப்படும். நிலத்தடி நீர் தடுப்பு சட்டப்படி அரசிடம் கட்டாயம் அனுமதி பெற வேண்டும். எனவே தனி நீதிபதியின் உத்தரவை ரத்து செய்யவேண்டும் என்று கூறியிருந்தனர்.

இந்த அப்பீல் வழக்கை நீதிபதிகள் சித்ரா வெங்கட்ராமன், சிவஞானம் ஆகியோர் விசாரித்து, தனி நீதிபதியின் உத்தரவை ரத்து செய்தனர். லாரிகள் மூலம் குடிநீர் விற்பனை செய்வதற்கு முன்பு பொதுப்பணித்துறையிடம் அனுமதி பெற வேண்டும். அரசு அனுமதியில்லாமல் குடிநீர் எடுத்து சட்டப்படி விற்பனை செய்யக்கூடாது என்று தீர்ப்பு கூறினர்.

Velankanni health officials raid store & seize 56kg expired food items

A team of health officials – comprising two joint directors, four deputy directors and several state-level officers – recently raided Krishna Stores, a departmental store in Velankanni, Tamil Nadu, and seized over 56kg of food items, including rava and cooking oil, which, in some cases, continued to be on the shelves despite having expired over a year-and-a-half ago.
They also stated that the items were used to prepare khichdi, which was consumed by 107 security personnel belonging to the Nagapattinam police force, the Tamil Nadu Battalion Force and the Railway Protection Force. The men suffered food poisoning as a result, and were admitted to three different hospitals.
A state-level officer said it would be inappropriate to state that super-chlorination was the cause of the illness, as it only results in stomach aches and acute discmofort, but does not cause diarrhoea. He added that when they began to investigate the men were found to suffer symptoms that point to other ailments.
Speaking on the condition of anonymity, he also informed that the cooking oil that was supplied recently had a post-dated manufacturing date, which was four days from the date date on which it was supplied. He added that it was extremely important for the public to be more vigilant about the items they purchase.

From tokens to the Net, tobacco dealers devise ways to bypass ban

Special Arrangement Food safety officers are studying methods employed by dealers to evade detection.

The ban on sale of chewable tobacco of various kinds has led to dealers coming up with a variety of ways of circulating and transporting these substances on the sly. Food safety officers are now studying their methods in order to break these cartels.

Among the lesser known substances are mawa and kaini, both of which are sold discreetly on the streets. Dealers employ different methods to sell these banned products. Some shops distribute tokens to regular customers. Another method is to bring the gutka, tobacco and paan masala separately and then mix them when customers ask for it.

Food safety officers said they are watching the movement of these products. Recently, at Vellore, a SUV with a large consignment of the banned substance was apprehended. Now, a committee comprising commercial tax officers, the RTO and the police has been formed to effectively conduct raids. “Vellore is a transport hub for these substances. We are also studying the various methods used to sell these substances but we cannot miss the big fish,” says A. Jagannathan, designated officer for Kancheepuram.

Equally insidious is the sale of such banned products through the internet. E. Vidhubala, who works on tobacco cessation at Cancer Institute, Adyar, said the product is advertised on the internet as ‘new generation gutka’ which comes in small tea bag-sized pouches, each containing 10 cases. Efforts to reach the mobile phone and telephone numbers listed on the website proved futile.

The World Health Organisation’s 2009-10 sample study shows that more people use gutka with areca nut. But those who use kaini and mawa or plain tobacco also form a sizable number. Around 17.2 per cent of men and 14.3 per cent of women consume products with gutka, betel, areca nut and tobacco.

The State has, since 2008, collected over Rs. 92 lakh as fines and the Southern Railway and the airport authorities have collected sizable amounts. Yet, there is little information on how the funds have been used, pointed out Dr. Vidhubala. “At present, over 16.2 per cent of the population chew and smoke tobacco and 8.1 per cent consume the smokeless form. This segment should be below 5 per cent and for that, we must focus on intervention,” she added.

She suggested adopting the Simla formula of opening a bank account and using the collected funds for tobacco control activity including conducting raids and developing informational and educational programmes.

New Food Safety Act norms yet to be enforced in Cantt

PUNE: The standards and guidelines set for food items under the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 and Rules and Regulations 2011, which was implemented two years ago, are yet to be enforced in the state's cantonment areas.
While Pune city has three cantonments - Pune, Dehu and Khadki, the cities of Nashik and Nagpur also have cantonment areas. The act had replaced the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act 1954 from August 5, 2011. But this central act is not being implemented in cantonment areas that incidentally come under the union government's jurisdiction.

Confirming, Mahesh Zagade, commissioner, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said, "There is no denying the fact that the act has not come into effect in cantonment areas of Maharashtra. We have brought this to the notice of Central Advisory Committee of Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). The designated officer for central licensing has not notified any official to oversee the implementation of the act in cantonment areas."

In the absence of an implementing authority, registration as well as licensing of food business operators in cantonment areas has not been done so far. "That does not mean that our (state's) food safety officials (FSO) let go any misconduct in food business in these areas. Whenever we get any complaint, our officials conduct an inspection and draw samples to rule out any contamination and spurious activity," Zagade said. He added that they were ready to monitor cantonment areas if FSSAI authorizes the state government to issue licenses and conduct regular inspections. "We have already conveyed our willingness to the authorities in this regard," Zagade said.

When contacted, Aarti Mahajan, vice president of Pune Cantonment Board said, "It is true that the provision of the new food act has not come into force in cantonment areas. Even the ban on gutka has not come into force in our areas. Gutka is being sold rampantly here. As far as food business regulation is concerned, we have a well-designed system in place to ensure that food items and food handlers conform to standards of hygiene and safety."

As per conservative estimates, there are around 15 lakh food business operators in Maharashtra. "We have issued licences to 3.9 lakh food business operators in the state and garnered revenue of Rs 34 crore for the state's exchequer. Maharashtra is the first in the country that has carried out the licencing work of this proportion so far. We are going to intensify the drive during the next two months."

Government Railway Police fleeces labourers carrying tobacco

MUMBAI: The Government Railway Police (GRP) has instituted an inquiry into an incident in which two of their personnel allegedly knocked off money from five Guwahati-bound labourers near the Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (LTT) recently.
The labourers were found carrying a small quantity of tobacco, which is a banned substance in the state. The cops then refused to consider their identity cards as valid on the pretext that they weren't issued in Maharashtra and threatened the men with action. A scribe who witnessed the goings-on wrote to the top GRP brass.
"I have been intimated about the incident and we are inquiring into it," confirmed additional director general (GRP) T S Bhal.
The incident took place on September 20. The four labourers work at a construction site in Pen, Raigad district. They wanted to board a train to their hometown from LTT. While they were on the path connecting Tilak Nagar station to LTT, two uniformed cops at a GRP desk asked them to halt. The cops checked their baggage and frisked the labourers. A small quantity of tobacco , which is a banned substance, was found on them.
"The labourers declared that the tobacco was for consumption. The cops then asked them to produce identification. At this, the labourers produced two election cards issued in Guwahati. But the cops declared these as invalid on the pretext that the Maharashtra government hadn't issued them. The labourers were dumbfounded as they did not have separate IDs for Maharashtra," said scribe, N Pandey, an eyewitness. "The GRP personnel then threatened to take action against the labourers who pleaded with them. Eventually, they were allowed to go after paying up Rs 600."
Pandey video-recorded a conversation with one of the labourers, Moti Roshan. Roshan said he and his co-workers couldn't file a complaint as they would miss their train. Pandey then gave a complaint in writing at the stationmaster's office in Tilak Nagar and also informed the GRP helpline.
For purpose of sale, distribution, manufacture and storage of tobacco, an offender can be prosecuted under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
Senior policemen confirmed that a government-issued identity card from any Indian state is valid proof of identity.

JMC's Health Section sans mobile testing vans

Fight against milk adulteration

Jammu, Sept. 23: Failure of government to release funds for purchase of mobile testing labs to check milk adulteration has scuttled the efforts Health Department of Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) to start major drive against the influx of poor quality products in the city. The proposal was mooted last year after an alarming report by Food Safety and Standard Authority of India (FSSAI) in January 2012 that 83 per cent of milk sold in urban and districts of the state is not safe for consumption.
A senior Municipal officer said that civic body is fighting a losing battle against the adulteration in the city as it does not have required facility and equipment to test milk and its products.
Though regular campaign has been launched to deal with the menace but it takes weeks to get result reports resulting in delay in starting prosecution process against the culprits. There is need to greater number of mobile labs and trained manpower to deal with the menace of adulteration and safeguard public health.
FSSAI had taken 18 samples from different areas of the state as part of its nationwide study and had found that most common adulteration in the state is Glucose and Skimmed Milk Products (SMP), mixed with intention to earn profit at the expenses of heath of the common man.
"So far we are dependent on the lab which takes days for the outcome of results, including for finding use of synthetic products. Mobile labs can provide us tool for on spot checking", said a municipal officer.
When contacted Health Officer JMC, Dr. Vinod Sharma said, "Till funds are released we are dependent on our existing labs".

Packaged drinking water producing units in the state to be investigated

Imphal, September 23 2013: The Food Safety Section of the Medical Directorate is all set to send a proposal to the Government to inspect all those packaged drinking water producing units in the State, which are producing sub-standard and unsafe drinking water.
Talking to media here today, T Brojendro Khaba, Deputy Food Safety Commissioner, Directorate of Health, informed that the colour of some packaged drinking water bottles under the label "Cheers" was found to have changed and some particles found inside the bottle as reported by the media recently.
The said package drinking water bottle is produced by one Reliable Hydrotech, Jaipur Khunou.
Another package drinking water produced by the same producing unit but under a different name (Merina Spring Premier Package Drinking Water) was also reported to have found with unwanted materials inside the water bottle.
He went on to inform that the Food Safety Authority which is under the Medical Directorate has sent a proposal asking to give approval for inspecting all those units producing sub-standard packaged drinking water in Manipur.
According to the guidelines of Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, a firm found which is found producing sub-standard packaged drinking water can be banned immediately.
Machineries used by these units are all given ISI recognition by the Bureau of Indian Standards, but it is doubtful that if these units are buying ISIs through bribing, he said, adding that these units in the state need to follow a long procedure to produce packaged drinking water and it is not known whether they are actually maintaining it or not.
While pointing out the need to make the public aware of the package drinking water, he further appealed to the general public to be careful while buying and drinking packaged drinking water.
He also appealed to the public to come to the Directorate if any food item or packaged drinking water is found mixed up with poisonous particles, saying the Food Safety authority of Manipur Government has the exclusive right to ban such manufacturers.

Manipur raises packaged drinking water alarm

Imphal: Most of the packaged drinking water manufacturing units in Manipur have turned out to be dangerous as they produced hazardous products that could result in fatality.

T Brojendro Khaba, Deputy Food Safety Commissioner, Directorate of Health, said unsafe packaged drinking water could claim life so the higher authority should look into it with seriousness.

Cases of toxic materials found in such bottled water have been continuously appeared in various local dailies since early part of the current year however nobody has ever tried to lodge a complaint in this regard to the Directorate till date.

He appealed to the public to come to the Directorate if any food item or packaged drinking water is found mixed up with poisonous particles, saying the Food Safety authority of Manipur Government has the exclusive right to ban such manufacturers after the state Government sends its proposal to the Directorate to this effect.

Earlier, media reports had revealed about containing of toxic particles in bottled drinking water.

Machineries used by these units are all given ISI recognition by the Bureau of Indian Standards, but it is doubtful that if these units are buying ISIs through bribing, he said.

'Penalise firms'

Imphal, September 23 2013: Deputy Food Safety Commissioner Brojendro Khaba has urged the authority concerned to take action against Food Safety Officer and Designated Officer of Bishnupur district for not examining the processing units of Silver Dew and Merina Spring packaged drinking water located at Joypur Khunou in Bishnupur district.
Speaking to reporters, Brojendro Khaba said that the State Government has the authority to penalise the firms which sell/supply expired or adulterated food items and fake brands under Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 .
He added that people had already detected fungus-like particles and impurities in Silver Dew and Merina Spring packaged drinking water in the past as well.
These two brands of packaged drinking water are manufactured and supplied to the market by Cheers Packaged located at Joypur Khunou in Bishnupur district.
Saying that District Food Safety Officer and Designated Officer have not inspected the processing unit till date although presence of impurities has already been reported in the media, Brojendro urged the authority concerned to take action against these officers for this gross negligence.
He added that he would also elaborate the matter to the State Government as the State Food Safety Authority has the right to intervene into such matters.

Seized items to be disposed

IMPHAL, September 23: Contraband food items which were seized under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 will be disposed of at the Municial solide Waste Landfill site, Lamphelpat on September 25.
According to a source, the seized food items include tin fish (Sea cherry) Mackerals sowkar (in brine) manufactured by Sowkar Canning Company Karnataka; Mikko Nutritious Cereal (High Calcium)-25g, Mikko (3 in 1 instant Coffeemix); Snacks (bakery items) and Milk and Milk products, Pickles/Achar items (Fruits and fishes).
The items were seized as there were no information of manufacture and expiry dates, batch numbers, nutritional information etc.
The items also include tobacco products like Gutkha, Khaini, Zarda, Pan masala, chewable and smokeless tobacco products containing tobacco or nicotine as food ingredients, said the source.
Meanwhile, a source has informed that certain food stalls were forced to close down during the Sangai Festival, 2012, after the said stalls from the state as well as from Bihar and West Bengal were found to have ignored the Food Safety Standards Act, 2006 and rules and regulation, 2011.