In a bid to check the rampant illegal sale of spurious milk and other milk products, three major departments of the Punjab Government has decided to launch joint crack down operation over the offenders playing with the health of innocent citizens of the state. Health and Family Welfare Department, Cooperation Department and Dairy Development Department have agreed to work in unison to check the sale of spurious milk and other milk products.Disclosing this Health and Family Welfare Minister, Brahm Mohindra said that decision to this effect was taken today in a high level meeting held at his office under his leadership, in which Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, Cooperation Minister, Balbir Singh Sidhu, Dairy Development Minister were also present. He said that as decided in the meeting district level teams would be constituted comprising of the officers of Health Department, Cooperation and Dairy Development Department to conduct surprise raids on the individual vendors selling milk, milk collection centers and other entities who produce and sell milk products. He said that milk samples would be taken and tested on the spot and strict punitive action as per the Provisions of Food Safety Act would be taken. He said that if need be FIR would also be registered at the spot against the offenders. He said that a Police Officer would also accompany the teams during surprise raids.
The Minister said to check the samples of milk and milk products, testing vans of Dairy Development and Health Department would immediately be rushed to the particular location.The Health Minister said that the Chief Minister, Captain Amarinder Singh is too concerned over the reports of widespread sale of spurious Milk and other milk products in the state and he has given the mandate to Health Department to launch joint operation with the support of other departments to curb the illegal sale of synthetic milk, adulterated ice creams, spurious milk products, bakery stuff and other eatable made of milk. He said that the Health Department under the Moto “Health to all” is also committed to ensure the availability of nutritious and unadulterated healthy food to the citizens of the state. In this meeting Mr. Satish Chandra, Additional Chief Secretary Health Department, Dr. G. Vajralingam Additional Chief Secretary Animal Husbandry and Dairy Development and Mr. D.P Reddy Additional Chief Secretary of Cooperation Department were also present. Besides MD Milkfed Mr. Manjit Singh Brar, Mr. Inderjit Singh, Director Dairy Development and Mr. Amarajit Singh, Director Animal Husbandry Department were also present.