‘Chikki sent for testing of good quality’

Repudiating that there were irregularities in the purchase of chikki for distribution to anganwadi centres in the state, minister for woman and child development Pankaja Munde said the samples sent for testing were found to be of good quality.

The reports of 12 laboratories in the state and national laboratory in Ghaziabad have given positive reports about the quality of chikki, she said. The issue was raised by Congress legislator Sanjay Dutt who alleged that sub-standard chikki was distributed to adivasi schools in Ahmednagar, Jalgaon, Amravati and Nandurbar districts.

Ms Munde said the distribution of chikki was stopped immediately after it was pointed out that dirt had been found in one of samples in Ahmednagar district. However, when these samples were tested in the Ghaziabad laboratory, no adulteration was found in them. In 20 districts where the chikki was distributed, there were no complaints made regarding fungus, metal pieces or mud being found, she said.

Opposition members alleged that no proper rules were followed in the purchase of chikki. Leader of Opposition Dhananjay Munde (NCP) claimed that M/s Suryakanta Sanstha, which was given the contract for chikki distribution, did not even have a production facility.

Going by the light bills of the company, it would have taken at least five years and 30 days to produce 1,500 kg of chikki. However, the company supplied the same in just four months, he said.

Ms Munde pointed out that the decision to award the contract to M/s Suryakanta was taken in 2012-13 during the previous Congress-NCP government at the cost of Rs 30 crore. As far as its light bills are concerned, it is not in her purview to check these things, she said.