Mumbai, Jun 24 (PTI) MLAs across party lines in the Maharashtra assembly on Wednesday rallied behind FDA commissioner Tukaram Mundhe, with NCP (SP) legislator Jitendra Awhad alleging that an “international drug lobby” was seeking the officer’s removal and Rs 250 crore was being mobilised.
The department seized food items with an estimated value of Rs 11.93 crore between May 1 and June 21, including adulterated milk, dairy products, edible oil, drinking water, jaggery, tea powder, mango ripening agents and banned products such as gutkha and tobacco.
Participating in a calling attention motion on food adulteration and the sale of banned products, legislators praised the recent crackdown launched by the Food and Drug Administration against adulterated milk, dairy products, edible oil, drinking water, chemical ripening agents and banned products such as gutkha and tobacco.
Several members said those involved in such activities were endangering public health and sought exemplary punishment for them. They also questioned why similar action had not been taken earlier.
Awhad alleged that an “international drug lobby” had begun exerting pressure for Mundhe’s transfer and claimed that Rs 250 crore was being mobilised for the purpose.
“I congratulate the officer who has dared to take action against people pushing citizens towards life-threatening diseases like cancer. But I fear he will not survive in the position for long as drug companies have started lobbying for his transfer and Rs 250 crore is being accumulated for the purpose,” he said.
He further claimed that even the concerned minister could lose his portfolio if he insisted on continuing Mundhe in the post.
MLAs Kashinath Date, Sudhir Mungantiwar, Nana Patole, Abhijit Patil, Rais Shaikh, Prashant Bamb, Atul Bhatkhalkar and Amasha Padvi, among others, participated in the debate and stressed the need to stand by the officer.
They also sought strengthening of laboratory infrastructure, filling up of vacant posts and availability of vehicles for conducting raids.
Patil and Bamb alleged the involvement of some FDA officials in gutkha and milk adulteration rackets and demanded strict action. Awhad alleged that certain officials manipulated reports to help the accused escape punishment.
Shaikh claimed that a racket operating in Bhiwandi was selling expired goods through online platforms with the help of FDA officials who issued fake certificates.
Members cutting across party lines demanded that the drive against adulteration, particularly involving gutkha, milk and food products, be intensified in view of the serious threat posed to public health.
Replying to the discussion, Food and Drug Administration Minister Narhari Zirwal assured the House that Mundhe would not be transferred and appealed to elected representatives to support him in his efforts.
Zirwal said the department had seized food items worth Rs 11.93 crore between May 1 and June 21, including adulterated milk, dairy products, edible oil, drinking water, jaggery, tea powder, mango ripening agents and banned products such as gutkha, tobacco and mawa.
A total of 1,930 food samples were collected for laboratory analysis, and further legal action would be initiated based on the test reports, he said.
Admitting that the department’s infrastructure was inadequate, Zirwal said steps had been initiated to establish new laboratories and upgrade existing ones in phases over the next few months.
“The department is in bad shape from the infrastructure point of view, but we have started taking steps for new laboratories and their upgradation,” the minister said.
Zirwal said large-scale action has been taken against adulterated food products, resulting in seizures. In a separate action relating to surgical gloves, goods worth Rs 74.85 lakh were confiscated.
The minister said the state has sought Rs 27.30 crore from the Centre for modernisation of food and drug testing laboratories and is pursuing the proposal. The government is also positive about providing modern equipment to laboratories, he added.
Highlighting manpower shortages in the department, Zirwal said the government is following up with the Maharashtra Public Service Commission to fill vacant posts of food safety officers. As against 200 sanctioned posts of drug inspectors, only 41 officers are currently in service, he said.
According to Central norms, Maharashtra requires around 1,100 food safety officers and 400 drug inspectors, he said, adding that a proposal for a revised staffing pattern is under consideration.
Zirwal said the department has signed agreements with 22 accredited laboratories under the public-private partnership (PPP) model, reducing the time taken for test reports from 90 days to 30-35 days.
He said work is underway to establish new laboratories in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Nashik, Nagpur and Raigad, with the remaining formalities expected to be completed within the next three to six months.
The minister said the department also plans to provide hired vehicles to officials and strengthen district-level offices.
Complaints regarding adulteration, mixing of oils, open sale of meat and other irregularities will be investigated promptly, and strict action will be taken against offenders, he said.
The minister also assured the House that complaints against department officials would be investigated and an appropriate action would be initiated. PTI MR NSK
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