6 kg of calcium carbide, 12.5 tonnes of fruits seized
3 merchants detained
VASCO, JUNE 16
Mormugao Deputy Collector and Vasco police on Wednesday busted a racket involving the use of calcium carbide to prematurely ripen mangoes in the port town.
In a joint operation conducted by Deputy Collector and Vasco police, about 12.5 tonnes of Neelam class mangoes were seized from three different storehouses at Khariwado shore, informed FDA Director Salim Veljee.
“Besides, about 6 kg of calcium carbide was also seized and three fruit merchants Mohammed Rafiq, Abdul Whab and Riyaz Ahmad have been detained,” said Veljee.
Deputy Collector Levinson Martins, Vasco DySP Mahesh Gaonkar, PI Braz Menezes and Vikas Kuvelkar of Vasco Urban Health Centre were later joined in by Food Inspector Rajiv Korde, Patil and Shivdas during the raid.
Mohammed Rafiq Narangi, who was caught red-handed in the storehouse, disclosed before the media about two more storehouses and names of fruit merchants, who are involved in the illegal business.
After the disclosure, police raided Hajarath Magboliya Fruit Storehouse, run by Nashir, Riyaz and Manhor, while one more storehouse adjacent to it was also raided.
Martins said the raid was carried out on Wednesday morning, after one of the electronic media reported about it.
The Food and Drug officials were busy taking samples from all the three storehouses for chemical analyses.
“We have taken samples, which will be sent for analyses to ascertain whether the chemical used was calcium carbide or not,” added Veljee.
Veljee thanked the Deputy Collector and Vasco police for cracking such a big racket and helping the FDA.
However, during the raid it is learnt from fruit vendors that major fruit merchants often mix calcium carbide, which hasten the ripening process, which is harmful to health.
Urban Health Centre Officer Dr Vikas Kuvelkar, who was present during the raid, said premature ripened fruits using chemical is a slow poison.
“Calcium Carbide releases acetic gas that causes neuro and respiratory problems, while immediate effects of artificially ripened fruits with chemical like Calcium Carbide causes headache, negative effect on the stomach and intestines, it also causes cerebrum edema,” said Dr Kuvelkar.
Vasco police PI Braz Manezes said they have referred the case to Food and Drug Administration, who will proceed further with the case under Prevention of Food Adulteration Act.
