Minister for Health and Medical Education Mr. Bali Bhagat today said that the Planning, Development and Monitoring (PD&M) Department would release Rs 6 crore for strengthening and augmentation of two existing food testing laboratories at Srinagar and Jammu.Replying to a calling attention notice by Mr. Mubarak Gul, the Minister said Drug and Food Control Organization will submit detailed specifications of all the instruments required for upgradation of these laboratories. He said the PD&M Department will also release Rs 1.75 crore for purchase of 5 mobile food testing vans.
The Minister also informed the House that Rs. 56.91 lakh was imposed as fine regarding food adulteration during the last year.He said the department of CA&PD conducted 25062 inspections during the year 2015-16 and 2866 samples were lifted for analysis out of which 419 samples were found adulterated and 282 samples were found misbranded. He said 729 prosecutions were filed during the year and 602 cases were decided by adjudicating officers.Mr. Bhagat said a week long special drive regarding milk and milk products was also conducted in April 2016 and 13472 Liters of milk and milk products were destroyed on spot while 419 samples were lifted for analysis. He said 127 samples were analyzed out of which 41 samples were found substandard while 2 samples were misbranded.