Enforcement agencies shift blame, SVO clueless

Fruit ripener seizure

SUMIT SHARMA

JAMMU: With the probe being initiated by the State Vigilance Organization (SVO) in connection with seizure of the China made fruit ripener agent (Ethylene Ripener) from Narwal Fruit Mandi Complex, the blame game within three government departments has started with the trio pointing towards one-another as culprit for showing negligence which paved way to cancer breading agents to reach in Jammu and Kashmir.
Official sources said that the State Vigilance Organization is muzzling its head after the three government departments, who happens to be the Enforcement Agencies including Office of the Controller Drug & Food Control, Assistant Director Food, Jammu Municipal Corporation and Horticulture started indulging in mudslinging.
However, official sources said, SVO has sent five boxes of the Ethylene Ripener to the Office of the Controller Drug & Food Control for its tests.
Sources further said that a separate communiqué to Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is also being sent to ascertain whose responsibility is to keep check on the harmful agent reached in Jammu, illegally.
It may be mentioned here that during the initial probe, it has been surfaced that Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Mandeep K Bhandari had constituted joint team of Jammu Municipal Corporation, Agriculture and Marketing and Drug Control to check such menace which proved detrimental for the health of the people.
According to SVO officials, ethylene in powder form has been seized for the first time in Jammu and Kashmir. While ethylene gas can only be used in chambers meant for fruit ripening, the sachet does not require a chamber.
"Ethylene gas is a fruit ripening agent permitted by the FSSAI. The sachet seized five days ago had ethylene in powder form. The powder sachet helps to ripen fruits overnight when placed inside the carton. We are yet to get any clue of the source of the ethylene sachet with the wordings 'Made in China' printed on it", said an SVO official, adding, the use of ethylene as ripening agent in fruits can cause serious health issues as in the case of calcium carbide as regular consumption of fruits ripened using ethylene powder can trigger gastritis, neurological disorders and cancer.