Srinagar, Aug 11: Asking officials to act tough against the accused selling adulterated and rotten food to the public, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday said that culprits will be given exemplary punishment.
The Chief Minister while chairing a high-level meeting here amidst the ongoing crackdown against the selling of rotten meat and chicken in the markets, passed slew of directions to the concerned authorities, seeking an end to such practices, saying that the public health can’t be compromised at any cost.
Pertinently, large quantity of adulterated and rotten meat was seized from different parts of Kashmir during the past two weeks. The people have questioned the authorities for failing to curb such practices and putting the health of common masses at risk.
The crackdown began from Srinagar outskirts on July 31 when the Food Safety Department Srinagar, in coordination with the Drug and Food Control Organization (DFCO) seized and destroyed 1,200 kilograms of rotten meat stored for distribution in the city.
Multiple raids were conducted since then and more such practices were exposed and the rotten meat including the adulterated delicacies like Kababs and Gushtabas, easily available in the markets were seized and destroyed simultaneously.
Meanwhile, CM Omar Abdullah reviewed the ongoing food safety enforcement campaign in the wake of recent seizures of unsafe meat and meat products, particularly in the Kashmir Valley.
The Chief Minister directed exemplary punitive action against those found storing or selling unsafe food, emphasising that offenders posing risks to public health must be prosecuted under the relevant provisions of the Food Safety & Standards Act. He called for criminal proceedings against the most serious violators.
“The grave problem appears to have remained unchecked and unnoticed for too long. The unscrupulous elements have played with the health and lives of people. This has to stop and those deliberately involved in playing with public health must face the law,” the Chief Minister said.
“I appreciate officials for launching the drive and exposing the dangerous rot in our food chain. There can be no compromise on public health and the drive will continue. There will be an audit of the concerned departments and the mechanism to stop import, sale and use of the unhygienic meat and other food items,” the CM added.
To tighten quality control, the Chief Minister ordered the establishment of entry-point check posts and testing laboratories at Lakhanpur and Qazigund to screen mutton, chicken, and other perishable items entering Jammu & Kashmir. He further directed that Food Testing Laboratories be set up at every district headquarters, instead of limiting such facilities to Jammu and Srinagar, thereby significantly enhancing the Government’s enforcement capacity. No meat should be sold and used without proper clearance, he said.
The Chief Minister also emphasised that the Food Safety and Drugs Organization would be further strengthened to ensure rigorous monitoring and swift action against violations.
The Chief Minister further instructed intensified inspection drives across all districts, with Deputy Commissioners personally leading surprise market checks to ensure strict compliance with prescribed hygiene and quality standards. All mobile food-testing vans are to be deployed immediately to support these operations.
