NEW DELHI, September 21: The oil available in the city markets is absolutely pure and can be bought and used without any fear, says Delhi Food and Civil Supplies minister Poornima Sethi as she tucks in a deep fried brown gulab jamun. Asked whether the stocks of adulterated oil still with the traders shouldn't inspire fear in consumers, she said that the SDMs had the data for the stocks of bad oil with every trader and that all of it will be destroyed.But just in case that statement leaves you with an impression that the government would be destroying the bad oil, it's not quite so. For, when asked this categorically, she denied it'd be done. Neither had she any suggestions on how else the adulterated oil's total destruction would be ensured.
The interesting thing is that the chief minister, who on Saturday said that that the oil traders would be asked to put their stocks of bad oil to other uses, like in the soap-making industry, has retracted his earlier assurance that the government would find uses for the bad oil.
Sethi's confidence stems from the fact that the ban on the sale of loose oil and continuation of tests will ensure that bad oil is never sold. Besides, the packets will bear the names of testing agencies, she says. The SDMs too will continue to play the role of health officers and supervise any flouting of government orders on the sale of edible oils. They will also monitor the fortnightly stocks report that edible oil dealers are obliged to provide.
For all this to work of course calls for honesty on the part of oil sellers, total efficiency and alertness on the part of the administrative machinery and, most importantly, vigil and awareness on the part of buyers, most of whom are unfortunately illiterate and poor. The Delhi government nevertheless plans to go ahead with lifting the ban on sale of mustard oil without having ensured that the market is cleansed of adulterated oil.
As for the availability of palmolein oil in the fair price shops, Sethi said that the 2,500 metric tonnes of oil allocated by the Central Government is being packed for supply in the FPSs. The packaging is being done by Hindustan Vegetable OIl Corporation Ltd.
A programme has been drawn up to cover 15 FPSs in each of the 70 circles in Delhi, and 14 circles per day in a five-day roaster. The card holder will be entitled to 2 litres per card at any of the 15 FPSs in the Circle from which his card is issued. The price payable by the card holder is Rs 37.50 per litre, she said.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
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