FDA to recover destruction cost of seized Gutka from those whom it seized the goods..

Having seized banned Gutka and other ingrediants to the tune of over Rs. 4 crores the Thane FDA now now has a uphill task of destroying the same as it cannot be stored for a long period.

The FDA office in the premises of the already stinking ESIS Hospital premises in Wagle Industrial Estate has already become a virtual godown of all the seized goods with no no room to move.

Whereever you go in the office you will find gunny bags of seized Gutka stored and this creates major hinderance to the corporates who visit the office for their routine work.

An official of the FDA who is also incharge of the massive drive carried out since the last four months just said that the Konkan division which had the distinction of topping the list of seizures in the state has a stock of around 5 tonnes of the seized goods.

He could not not however classify the Gutka and the supari mix stock which the department seized.

According to sources the department will incurre an expenses of Rs.26.50 per kg for the distruciton of the seized goods which comprises only of the Gutka. As regards the supari mix there is no no final decision as yet.

Hence the destruction of the 5 tonnes of the seized Gutka will cost the department around Rs. 1.32 lakhs.  The transportation cost will also be added to this expenses the officer said.

He said that they had identified a facility at Devnar which is approved by the MPCB for distruction of the seized goods.

But the FDA has decided to recover or ask the concerned parties from whom the goods have been seized to incur this expenses.

However at this stage one does not not know if the parties who have already surrendred their crores of rupees worth goods to FDA will incur additional expenses running to lakhs.

Meanwhile the FDA had already written to the civic corporations here seeking their nod to dispose of the seized goods in their dumping yard which needs to be done in the presence of the senior FDA officials.

However none of the civici corporations responded the reason is obivious why should the corporation give their neck to the FDA.

Moreover land fill is not not permitted as the Gutka contains plastic/polythene cover which is a banned item for land fill and give rise to environmental issues.

Hence the FDA has to wait and watch till the seized gutka is destroyed and the office is freed of movment space.

Asked as to when this will happen the officer kept his fingers crossed and said it will take its own time.