Govt notice leaves AMC in a dilemma

AHMEDABAD, Nov 16: The State government's notification last year restricting powers of filing cases against adulterators only at the level o...

AHMEDABAD, Nov 16: The State government’s notification last year restricting powers of filing cases against adulterators only at the level of Deputy Health Officer (DyHO) is preventing the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation’s (AMC) health department from taking steps against them after detecting adulteration cases from the city.

Sources in the corporation said 109 of the 1,600 samples taken by the health department were found to be adulterated. But following the government notification, neither the medical health officer nor the concerned deputy municipal commissioners (DyMCs) were able to file cases in the court. As a result, action could not be taken in 70 per cent adulteration cases.

DyHO posts exist only in the collectorate and district panchayats while in the corporation, the in-charge was the deputy municipal commissioners (DyMCs), followed by medical officer for health and deputy medical officer at the zonal offices. There is no post of DyHO in the corporation.

Story continues below this ad

Sources said several representation had been made to the State government but it was yet to bring about a change in the notification. Even the top level authorities and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the corporation urged the government to change the notification but nothing fruitful has come out yet.

Liquor haul: Police on Sunday arrested 22 persons under Prohibition Act and recovered 286 litre countrymade liquor. About eight were nabbed with Rs 620 under Gambling Act.