Telangana to recruit 291 food safety officers

Proposal in this regard has been sent to the officials concerned.

Hyderabad has only three food inspectors to monitor more than 20,000 eateries.

Hyderabad: Waking up to the demand for food safety staff in the State to curb food adulteration, the Health Department is planning to recruit 291 food inspectors and food safety officers.

Proposals were sent to the officials concerned and soon after the approval, the Telangana State Public Service Commission (TSPSC) would take up recruitments.

Food adulteration has been a major cause of concern as there were only 20 sanctioned posts of food inspectors in Telangana region before the State bifurcation. Soon after Telangana State was formed, the State government sanctioned new posts of 10 food inspectors and 13 additional posts at Food Analysis Lab.

However, there are only seven food inspectors and six gazetted food inspectors at present against the sanctioned strength of 30 food inspectors and 10 gazetted food inspectors, respectively, in the State. The TSPSC has already initiated recruitment for vacant posts of food inspectors and additional posts at Food Analysis Lab.

However, a study into requirements by the Health Department revealed that it requires 291 food inspectors and food safety officers. The officials concerned have sent proposals to their higher authorities in this regard and awaiting an approval.

In Hyderabad city alone, there are only three food inspectors to monitor more than 20,000 eateries besides numerous food processing and manufacturing units. Food inspectors working in the districts are also burdened with monitoring two-three districts each, due to staff crunch and putting lives of people at risk even as adulteration industry is thriving.

Adding to the woes, there is only one Food Testing Laboratory located at Nacharam in the city serving the needs of both Telugu States with a capacity to analyse about 12,600 food samples per annum. The officials said unless division of assets between the two States is completed, they might not be able to expand the lab as per requirements.

The issue came up for discussion during the recently adjourned session of the Assembly and the Council, following which the Health Department initiated measures to plug loopholes. In addition to recruitments in Food Safety Department, the State government formed 14 special task force teams comprising the Police and Food Safety Department officials for checking food adulteration in the State.

Observing the urgency to tackle the issue, Health Minister C Laxma Reddy admitted in the Assembly that food adulteration was a serious issue and awareness programmes were being conducted to educate people in this regard. He said the Centre was planning to bring amendments to the Food Safety and Standards Act based on which the State government would strengthen the department further.