For a week now, Junagadh swimming in chocolates

Fishing for chocolates may be a dream for some, but for people living in coastal villages of Junagadh, it’s a reality.

Fishing for chocolates may be a dream for some, but for people living in coastal villages of Junagadh, it’s a reality. For the past eight days, residents of seven villages near Kodinar town have been collecting foreign chocolates washing ashore in large numbers.

Residents of Mul-dwarka, Dhamlej, Madh, Prander, Tarkhadi, Chhara and Madhwad are collecting and consuming these chocolates without bothering to check if it is safe. Having come to know of the incident, local NGOs and police officials are now issuing warnings that eating these chocolates may prove hazardous.

When contacted, president of Kodinar-based NGO Prakruti Pariwar Trust, Dinesh Goswami said he visited Mul-Dwarka on Sunday and collected 60 chocolates that had washed ashore. “Villages are collecting these in bags and eating them without a thought,” he said, adding, “We are repeatedly flashing warnings on local cable TV network and have informed the concerned officials in this regard.”

Kodinar resident Arvind Suchak said “These are white and dark chocolates, square- and heart-shaped, weighing 15 gm. The print on the wrappers is in English and Arabic, but isn’t legible. Some lines read ‘Kids company- Manufacturing year-2007, expiry -2008.”

He added that some street vendors were even selling these chocolates.

When contacted, Kodinar town PSI H M Solanki said, “The issue falls under the Customs department. The police have recovered three gunny bags of chocolates. We have made panchnama (spot assessment) and made an entry in the police station diary.”

Police have informed Customs officials and also issued warnings on local cable network. However, villagers are still consuming the chocolates, Solanki added.

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Custom Superintendent (Kodinar) H P Meena said,”It is possible that some vessel coming or going towards Dubai or Mumbai, might have dumped these chocolates in bulk due to excess weight. It is also possible that a vessel carrying the chocolates might have sunk and the goodies are surfacing now.”

“We are waiting for orders from department superiors for further action,” he said.