Decrease in number of food adulteration cases,says health minister

Replying to a call-attention motion moved by Virsa Singh Valtoha on increasing adulteration and use of toxic injections in poultry animals and fruits and vegetables,Health and Family Welfare Minister Laxmi Kanta Chawla said this was not true as the practice had been largely curtailed over the last few years. From January 2007 to August 2010,she said,225 samples of fruits and vegetables were seized by the department,of which 77 were found to be adulterated. Similarly,3,865 samples of milk and milk products were seized,of which 1,170 were found to be adulterated,but no sample contained synthetic milk,she said. She clarified that oxytocin was not being used in poultry,but instructions had been issued to drug inspectors to check the sale of injections. Sarabjit Singh Makkar and K D Bhandari drew the attention of the House towards dengue and viral fever cases spreading in the states. Replying to the motion,Chawla said the state was well prepared and separate wards had been identified at each civil hospital,rapid response teams constituted and nodal officers deployed at district level. Replying to the motion moved by Madan Lal Thekedar about non-cleaning of Patiala stream and Jacob drain,Irrigation Minister Janmeja Singh Sekhon said Rs 30 lakh each had been spent on cleaning of the two water bodies in 2008-09.