FDA will have the power to tackle adulteration: Girish Bapat

The state government on Monday said flying squads from the food and drug administration (FDA) would be empowered sufficiently to take stringent action against those indulging in milk adulteration.

FDA minister Girish Bapat said in the Assembly that though the state was serious about curbing milk adulteration, it was handicapped by an order of the Aurangabad bench of the Bombay high court that stipulated the offence could not be made non-bailable.

Replying to a star question posed by MLA Bharat Bhalke, Mr Bapat said, the state had therefore challenged the order of the high court in the Supreme Court.

“The state has already passed tough legislation to deal with milk adulteration, but the act is pending with the President for approval,” said Mr Bapat.

Former deputy chief minister and senior NCP leader Ajit Pawar reminded the Assembly that it was the previous government in the state that had brought in a harsher legislation to curb adulterations. He urged the state government to follow up with the President’s office on the matter.

Expressing his concern, Mr Pawar said, the act should be stringent enough to deter people from indulging in adulteration. “It’s the right of every person that they should get clean and pure milk,” he said.

Leader of opposition Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil said the food and drug administration did not have adequate staff and demanded that it be assigned enough human resources pronto so the problem is contained effectively.

Mr Bapat said that in keeping with the guidelines given by the Centre, the state would form a committee to draft rules to curb adulteration. “The FDA has the power to raid centres, suspected of carrying out adulteration, and would further be given the support of the police department. In addition, an officer from the dairy development department would be included in the flying squad, said Mr Bapat.