RT-288: Agricultural Marketing Department - Constitution of District Level Committee to prevent usage of calcium carbide for early ripening of fruits – Orders – Issued.

GOVERNMENT OF ANDHRA PRADESH ABSTRACT Agricultural Marketing Department - Constitution of District Level Committee to prevent usage of calcium carbide for early ripening of fruits – Orders – Issued. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AGRICULTURE AND CO-OPERATION (AM-IV) DEPARTMENT G.O.Rt.No.288. Dated:19-03-2012 * * * ORDER:- During the meeting held on 06-03-2012 chaired by Special Chief Secretary to Government (Agril. Mktg. & Coopn.) on issue of usage of calcium carbide for early ripening of fruits, it was decided to constitute a District Level Committee under the Chairmanship of Joint Collector concerned district. 2. Accordingly, Government hereby constitutes a District Level Committee with the following members to oversee the usage of calcium carbide for early ripening of fruits. 1. Joint Collector - Chairman 2. Gazetted Food Inspector belonging to Medical - Member and Health Department in each district. Convener 2. Asst. Director of Marketing - Member 3. Commissioner of Municipality / Municipal - Member Corporation / Medical and Health Officers located within the district. 4. District Panchayat Officer - Member 5. Assistant / Deputy Director of Horticulture - Member Department 6. Regional Transport Officer of the District - Member 3. The above committee will meet once in a quarter, but during the summer season from March to July the Committee will meet once in a month. The Committee will coordinate action for stopping usage of calcium carbide and will take action as under a) Massive awareness campaign to educate the consumers about the harmful effect of the calcium carbide in artificial ripening of fruits. This can be done by advertisements in the cable net work, press conferences and by public address system both in the Municipalities / Villages as well as in the Market yards and also by hoardings in prominent places, b) Teams would be formed by the respective departments for concerted action to locate areas where large scale calcium carbide is done and take action as per law. c) Since most of this happens in Agricultural Market Yards, the Secretary, Agricultural Market Committee will be held responsible for any usage of calcium carbide adulteration for artificial ripening within the premises of the (pto)- 2 - Market Yard and therefore, it is his duty to ensure that this does not take place within the premises of the Agricultural Market Yard. Simultaneously, the health staff both in Municipality / Municipal Corporations / Panchayat will take effective steps to prevent such thing happening in areas outside Agricultural Market Yards. d) It should also be ensured that in transportation of fruits, calcium carbide should not be used and transport department is requested to monitor this aspect. 4. The Commissioner and Director of Agricultural Marketing, A.P. Hyderabad is requested to take action accordingly. (BY ORDER AND IN THE NAME OF THE GOVERNOR OF ANDHRA PRADESH) I.Y.R. KRISHNA RAO, SPECIAL CHIEF SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT. To The Commissioner & Director of Agricultural Marketing, A.P., Hyderabad. The Commissioner and Director of Municipal Administration, A.P., Hyderabad. The Commissioner of Panchayat Raj, A.P., Hyderabad. The Director and Commissioner of Food Safety, Institute of Preventive Medicine, A.P., Hyderabad. The Joint Food Controller, Institute of Preventive Medicine, A.P., Hyderabad. The Commissioner of Transport, A.P., Hyderabad. The Commissioner, G.H.M.C, Hyderabad. The Chief Medical Officer Health, G.H.M.C, Hyderabad. Copy to: The P.S. to Spl. Chief Secy. to Govt. (AM & Coopn), A & C Dept. The P.S. to APC & Prl. Secy. to Govt. (Horti. & Seri.), A & C Dept. The P.S. to Prl. Secy. to Govt., MA & UD Dept. The P.S. to Prl. Secy. to Govt. PR & RD Dept. The P.S. to Prl. Secy. to Govt., H, M & FW Dept. The P.S. to Prl. Secy. to Govt.(Transport), TR & B Dept. SF/SCs. // FORWARDED :: BY ORDER // SECTION OFFICER.