Regional food testing lab to be opened in Vizag next month

Keeping public health in mind, the AP Legislative Committee on Privileges is working to strengthen the food safety department, according to panel chairman and Deputy Speaker Raghu Rama Krishna Raju. 

As part of their Visakhapatnam district tour, the committee members held a meeting with officials at the Collectorate Meeting Hall on October 22 and discussed various issues.

Speaking on the occasion, the Chairman announced that the issues discussed at the meeting regarding strengthening the Food Safety Department will be brought to the notice of the Chief Minister and the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly. He reminded that the petitions committee had a long discussion with the officials on two key issues aimed at improving public health and food safety standards in the State. He said that an action plan would be formulated to strengthen food safety and improve the State’s rank.

Pointing out the shortage of staff in the food safety department, he said over 500 employees were required in the State. He said the committee was keen to bring the State, which was currently ranked 29th in the country in the food safety index, to at least the 15th position by next year.

The chairman said that they have identified difficulties in providing treatment to a few people suffering from haemophilia, and there was a discussion to make it a daycare treatment and to improve the facilities at KGH.

He said the first regional food testing laboratory would be opened in Visakhapatnam in the first week of November. “As Visakhapatnam is developing fast and hosting national and international conferences, it has been decided to hold the petitions committee meetings in Visakhapatnam every three months.”

He appealed to the media to bring their valuable suggestions to the notice of the committee on preventing food adulteration.

Committee members and MLAs Palla Srinivasa Rao, Vishnu Kumar Raju, and Konatala Ramakrishna participated in the meeting.

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This article is written by Senior Journalist Lakkoju Nagesh Babu