Mumbai, Jul 7: Maharashtra Food and Civil Supplies Minister Narhari Zirwal on Monday announced immediate suspension of two Food and Drug Administration (FDA) officials and closure of a factory in Nandurbar district found guilty several times of oil adulteration.
Replying to a question raised by Shiv Sena MLA Amshya Padvi in the assembly, Zirwal said the joint commissioner and assistant commissioner of FDA would be suspended for failing to act promptly against the factory in Akkalkuwa despite multiple instances of adulteration being reported.
Supplementary questions were raised by legislator Sameer Kunawar, who pointed out that samples of soybean and groundnut oil collected recently from the same factory were found to be adulterated.
"Swift action was expected, but the concerned officers failed to act, which has now resulted in disciplinary action. Officials found responsible in the case of substandard edible oil in Nandurbar district will be suspended, and the concerned company will be shut down," Zirwal informed the House.
On March 10, FDA officials inspected Gopal Provision, a firm based in Akkalkuwa, where samples of Mahika brand refined soybean oil and Kamla brand groundnut oil were collected for testing, with preliminary reports finding these to be non-compliant with food safety standards, the minister said.
As the vendor appealed against the findings, the samples have now been sent for re-analysis to Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI) in Mysuru in Karnataka, Zirwal said in the assembly.
During 2024-25, a total of 12 edible oil samples were collected in Nandurbar district, out of which five were declared substandard, with legal proceedings initiated under Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 in two of these cases.
Reports from referral laboratories are awaited in the the remaining three, Zirwal said while assuring strict action against violators of food safety regulations.
In a separate discussion, Minister-in-Charge Shambhuraj Desai informed the assembly that a panel of architects and financial experts has been appointed to study the redevelopment of 81 buildings under the Umarkhadi Redevelopment Committee in Mumbai.
The report is expected within three months, after which a decision will be taken, Desai said.
Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar, during proceedings, directed that a report on alleged irregularities in the procurement and distribution of rice under the public distribution system (PDS) be submitted to the House before the end of the current session.
The directive followed complaints raised by senior Congress leader Nana Patole regarding large-scale corruption in the PDS supply chain.
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