State for stricter laws to curb milk adulteration

MUMBAI: The state government said it will approach the Centre for amendment in the laws for stricter punishment and making milk adulteration non-bailable. The state has also decided to frame rules to curb adulteration and develop a mechanism to enable customers to check the quality of the milk.

Admitting that milk adulteration has been a menace, food and civil supplies minister Girish Bapat said the state has written to the Centre for changes in the existing laws.

“We had booked the culprits involved in the adulteration under sections 283 and 328 making the offence nonbailable, but the Aurangabad bench of the Bombay high court struck down the application. We have challenged the ruling in the Supreme Court. If amended by the Centre, the enforcement may get more strength,” he added.

Bapat said the flying squads deployed across the city, regularly conduct raids and they have helped the government in restricting adulteration. He added that the government has also directed the officials at the octroi entry posts to check the 539 tankers entering the city everyday.

“The department had seized adulterated stock worth Rs4.17 lakh and levied penalty of Rs11 lakh for the adulterated supply last year,” Bapat said.

He added that without waiting for the response from the Centre, the state government has decided to frame its own rules for action against adulteration.

A question on adulteration was raised by Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, Ashish Shelar and Ajit Pawar during the question hour.