Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Tuesday said that the state government will move an amendment to take action against milk adulterators under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA).
“This is necessary as adulteration of milk and similar food items is a very serious matter posing a threat to the lives of people. This will not be tolerated,” he said.
The Deputy Chief Minister, who chaired the meeting in the presence of Food and Drug Administration Minister Narahari Zirwal, directed the administration to prepare a proposal to amend the law and bring it before the cabinet for its approval.
He held the meeting as per the assurance given during the calling attention motion in the state Assembly with regard to the sale of analogue cheese in many places and cases of milk adulteration in many places in the state.
He further directed that a laboratory should be set up in each department immediately to test milk adulteration, and the instructions should be given to display information about analogue cheese in the shop display area if there is any in the milk.
“Public awareness should be created regarding milk adulteration, a toll-free number should be operational for the public to register complaints regarding adulteration, and a portal should be developed,” he said.
He assured that more funds will be provided in the supplementary demands to the Food and Drug Administration Department to purchase state-of-the-art technology and machinery to prevent milk adulteration.
He also directed that the services of officers and employees of the Dairy Department should be taken and they should be trained to overcome the shortage of manpower in the Food and Drug Administration Department.
He directed the Solapur District Collector and District Superintendent of Police (Rural) to arrest the accused in the Solapur milk adulteration case as soon as possible, regardless of their party affiliation or age.
