JAMMU: Former BJP Minster and senior BJP leader Choudhary Sukhnandan Kumar has asked the authorities to conduct raids and check sweets manufacturing unit in Jammu where adulterated material is being used to prepare sweets. Asking officials to ensure good quality sweets are sold in Jammu ahead of festival of Diwali, Sukhnandan Kumar said, ‘Demand of sweets increases manifolds during festival days and there are confirmed reports that adulterated and sub-standard material is being used.
“Therefore, as a precautionary measure, I suggest to all designated officers and food safety officers to keep rigorous surveillance especially in sweets factories in R S Pura, Muthi, Samba, Kathua and other places,” said the former BJP Minister. He further added that periodical inspections must be be carried out to check adulteration, for the proper implementation of food safety and standards Act, 2006, in a strict manner in these sweets manufacturing units in Jammu .
Sukhnandan said, “The national food regulator has already directed officials in all states and Union Territories to maintain “strict vigil” on the manufacture and sale of sweets, savouries, milk and milk products to check adulteration during the ongoing festive season.
Demand for sweets, savouries and products such as ghee, khoya, and paneer surges during the festive season, increasing the chances of such products being adulterated, Sukhnandan said, adding How a factory can manufactur and ladoos for Rs 70 per kg to the shop owners and they are selling it further on higher prices like Rs 200 to Rs 400 per kg. Similarly, other sweets Gulab Jamaun, Ras Gullaas are being sold to these shop owners for Rs 120 per kg and further shop owners are selling it for multiple time higher prices like Rs 400 to Rs 450 kg.
When paneer is costing Rs 290 per kilogram in Jammu markets then how these sweets factory owners are selling Gulab Jammun for Rs 120 per kg to shopkeepers? questions Sukhnandan. What the departments are proving by checking the small shops in city and rural areas of Jammu and seizing their material, asks the Ex-BJP Minister Sukhnandan Kumar, adding that the check on these manufacturers will resolve all issues. But for obvious reasons, the concerned department officials are not raiding these sweet manufacturers, lamented Sukhnandan Kumar.
Seeking intervention on this issue, Choudhary Sukhnandan has asked the government to intervene and save the public from eating spurious and adulterated sweets. The use of such adulterated types of sweets causes severe health issues and the doctors have also advised this many times and this is the right time to take action and save the public from serious health hazards, Sukhnandan added.
