Jammu, Feb 2: The state government has blatantly admitted about the non-existence of the food testing laboratories exposing the common masses to the fatal dangers of the sub-standard food items.
The authorities are being castigated time and again that the absence of food testing laboratories in Jammu and Kashmir is putting peoples' health in danger at large. Snall measures are taken by the government to put lid over the crises. The government exhibited its non-serious approach over the non- existence of the food testing laboratories when it was recently asked in the state legislature's upper house about whether there are any food testing labs existent in the state. In its answer, the government blatantly said a big No. The icing on the cake was that it didn't divulge any further details over the reasons thereof.
Official sources divulged to Early Times that the two labs that were earlier established in Jammu and Srinagar have no qualified food microbiologist. And furthermore, no measures have been taken for the recruitment against these posts.
The High Court in July last year took serious note of pathetic conditions of the laboratories and had directed the Commissioner Secretary Health to be present before the court along with his compliance report. He is presently officiating as Food Commissioner in absence of full-fledged Food Commissioner.
The division bench of Chief Justice Badar Durez Ahmad and Justice Ali Mohammad Magrey made FSSAI as party respondent to the PIL and its visiting report has been taken on record. "Various deficiencies need to be addressed immediately. One of the major concerns is that there is no FSC. We direct Commissioner/ Secretary health to file his compliance report indicating as to what steps have been taken for appointment of FSC on next date", HC directed.
Court on previous hearing had directed Food Safety Standards Authority of India to send a qualified person here to visit the laboratories to find out the functioning of these laboratories.
The direction to FSSAI came after the court was informed by Controller Food Safety, that the charge of Food Safety Commissioner (FSC) is with the Commissioner Secretary Health Department and the proposal for appointment of FSC was sent to government but no response till date.
It is in compliance of court directions CEO FSSAI deputed a two member team to visit both the laboratories at Jammu and one at Srinagar and submit the report as to whether the laboratories fulfill the requirement for testing of samples as required under the FSA, 2006.
However, there has still been no action taken to establish the food testing labs by the Department of Consumer Distribution.
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