‘Sub standard cheese at inflated price’

Jammu & Kashmir:  Authorities responsible to check food adulteration, sale and rates thereof have failed to maintain check on circulation, sale and maintaining rates of cheese and allied milk products in Jammu. 
Dearth of cheese in the months of summer especially in June to August is evident due to migration of animals to upcountry in search of green feed. This is the season when smugglers and cheese mafia come in existence and loot innocent masses by selling adulterated and substandard cheese. 
Gone are the days when anybody could sell cheese. As per provisions of Food Security and Safety Act (FSSA) three tier systems would be evolved to monitor selling and manufacturing of cheese and allied milk products, well informed sources said. They said chain of offices and officials would be made accountable and would be sentenced, if found in derailing duties. 
Confirming the reports, health officer Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC), Dr Anwar Chowdary said that vendors would be fined upto Rs 5 lakh and official on the helm of affairs would be fined upto Rs 2 lakh if found non-serious. Dr Chowdary said that training for incumbent field staff is on and after completion of their training things would be set right. While deliberating on new system of functioning, Dr Chowdary informed that new concept is in force but it will take few days to take off till public is aware. He said that there would be licensing system as well as registration system. Besides there would be recovery system under District Magistrate and instead of court there would be tribunal headed by retired session judge including senior citizen as member. Moreover, specific complaints are being addressed on routine basis and would be further be solved with intensified pace. 
When contacted Director Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution (CAPD) Parveez Malik said that government has fixed rate of cheese at Rs 130 per kilogram and those selling above this rate should be brought to book to which consumers should forward a written complaint. He advised that unless a written complaint is submitted to the department it would be difficult to prove vendor as guilty.