Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, July 5: Special squad of the Drug and Food Control assisted by Police today raided several shops in civil lines area of Srinagar and seized banned Gutka products worth Rs 15,000.
An official statment issued here said that on the directions of Commissioner Health and Medical Education Shaleen Kabra, a special squad of Drug and Food Control headed by Shabir Ahmed Lone, Food Safety Officer along with SHO Maisuma, Asif Iqbal, volunteers of J&K Voluntary Health Association (JKVHA) raided various shops in Maisuma, Maharaji Bazaar, Koker Bazaar and Lal Chowk and seized huge quantity of banned Gutka products worth Rs. 15,000.
Government has already banned Gutka, Pan Masala, Khaini etc. which contain tobacco, being unsafe food product for consumption, as it causes cancer. The squad imposed fine on the shopkeepers. The seized products were destroyed in front of media, at Press Colony Srinagar. The balance seized Gutka was destroyed scientifically in an incinerator through Regional Director, J&K Pollution Control Board, Ali Mohammed Dar.
Drug Controller, Satish Gupta and Asstt. Food Controller Abdul Hamid have warned shopkeepers that their registration can be cancelled if they are caught selling Gutka. Executive Director JKVHA A M Mir has appreciated the steps taken by Government and appealed the shopkeepers not to sell Gutka, Khaini or Pan Masala containing tobacco, as it causes cancer.
Mir also requested Commissioner SMC, Dr GN Qasba to issue appropriate instructions to Food Safety Officers of SMC to prohibit sale of Gutka and smoking in public places, during the Food Safety Week being observed by the Corporation July 1 to 7, 2013.
Follow our WhatsApp channel