The AMC's health department raided seven supermarkets in various parts of the city on Saturday and destroyed 470 kg of rotten vegetables and fruits.
Don't get carried away by supermarket advertisements claiming they sell fresh vegetables and fruits at attractive prices. The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation's (AMC) raid on supermarkets exposed the tall claims made by these markets. The AMC's health department raided seven supermarkets in various parts of the city on Saturday and destroyed 470 kg of rotten vegetables and fruits.
The health department raided Big Bazaar, Reliance Fresh, National Handloom, D'Mart and Star Bazaar. They found the vegetables and fruits sold at these markets to be below standard and unhealthy, and hence they were destroyed.
Moreover, the health officials also recovered Rs9,500 as administrative charges from the outlets. Dr Suresh Patel, chairman of AMC's health and solid waste management committee said that the civic body had instructed supermarket managers to maintain quality of fruits, vegetables and other food articles sold at their premises.
Patel said that the raids were part of the AMC's campaign to maintain health and hygiene of the citizens. The civic body will intensify its drive against unhealthy food products in the city.
Besides this, the AMC has also made it clear that supermarkets cannot charge arbitrary rates for plastic carry bags. The traders should not give plastic carry bags of more than 40-micron thickness free, but charge a token amount with a view to discouraging the use of plastic, said Patel.
"However, it does not mean that they can charge arbitrary rates," he added. At present, many supermarkets charge Rs2, Rs4 and Rs5 for carry bags of various sizes. "The charges cannot be levied for adding to their profit, so AMC will take a call on fixing the charges which are meant for additional cost of bags of higher than 40-micron thickness and transportation cost," he said.
The civic body had organised a brain-storming session for effective implementation of ban on plastic below 40-micron thickness which was attended by people associated with trading, manufacturing, hospitals, hotels and NGOs among others.
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