After BJP MLA Vikram Satpute raised the issue of fake cheese during the session, the state government has come into action mode, and an important meeting was held yesterday in the presence of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. In this meeting, Ajit Pawar has given instructions to take strict action against those who adulterate milk. "Adulteration in milk and similar food items is a very serious matter. It poses a threat to the lives of people. This will not be tolerated. Necessary amendments will be made in the current law to take strict action against those who adulterate milk and similar food items under MCOCA. A proposal in this regard should be presented before the cabinet," Ajit Pawar instructed.
As per the assurance given during the discussion in the Legislative Assembly on the issue of analogue cheese being sold in many places in the state under the name analogue paneer and the milk adulteration that came to light in Bhose in Pandharpur taluka of Solapur district, a meeting was organized in the committee room of the Vidhan Bhavan under the chairmanship of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Tuesday.
What instructions from Ajit Pawar to the administration?
"A laboratory should be set up immediately in each department to test milk adulteration; instructions should be given to display information about analogue cheese in the shop display area if there is any in the cheese. Public awareness should be created regarding milk adulteration; a toll-free number should be properly implemented for the public to register complaints regarding adulteration, and a portal should be developed," Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar instructed.
He assured that more funds would be provided in the supplementary demands to purchase state-of-the-art technology and machinery for the Food and Drug Administration Department to prevent milk adulteration. Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar also directed that the services of officers and employees of the Dairy Department should be taken and trained to overcome the shortage of manpower in the Food and Drug Administration Department. Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar gave clear instructions to the District Collector and District Superintendent of Police (Rural) of Solapur to arrest the accused in the Solapur milk adulteration case at the earliest and take strict action against them, regardless of their party or age.
Meanwhile, the meeting was attended by Food and Drug Administration Minister Narhari Jirwal, Minister of State Yogesh Kadam, MLA Sudhir Mungantiwar, MLA Vikram Pachpute, MLA Abhijit Patil, MLA Kailas Patil along with senior officials of the Food and Drug Administration, Medical Education, Home and Finance and Planning departments. The District Collector and Superintendent of Police (Rural) of Solapur were also present through video conferencing.