The Hindu : National : Maharashtra withdraws poor quality red wheat

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Thursday, Nov 15, 2007
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Maharashtra withdraws poor quality red wheat

Special Correspondent

MUMBAI: The Maharashtra government has finally accepted that the red imported wheat is of inferior quality and has decided to withdraw it from all over the State.

In an affidavit filed before the State Human Rights Commission on Wednesday, the government said the sale and distribution of red imported wheat would be stopped and 33,000 tonnes of wheat seized.

The affidavit was filed in response to a complaint filed by Kirit Somaiya of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Samples tested

Ten samples of wheat collected by Mr. Somaiya were sent for laboratory testing by the Commission and it was found that they were unfit for human consumption. These samples were collected from various parts of the State in October.

The government has now assured the Commission that it will test the wheat before distributing it. Much of the wheat was distributed under the targeted public distribution schemes for the poor.

At the hearing by the Commission on Wednesday, the results of tests on wheat samples were submitted.

The samples from godowns and shops in various parts of the State were analysed by the State Public Health Laboratory, Pune, and all were found to be unfit for human consumption.

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