From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Jun 9: Karnataka’s Health Minister Ramesh Kumar has promised a thorough investigation into the sale and supply of ‘plastic rice and sugar’ in the open market in the State, including in the government’s public distribution system.
Replying to a question in the State Legislative Assembly on Friday, the minister expressed doubts about the reports of the items being sold in the State.
He sought time till Monday to find out facts behind it.
Opposition BJP leader JagdishShettar, who raised the issue during zero hour in the house, said there are reports about plastic rice being found in what is being distributed under PDS and governments popular Anna Bhagya scheme and demanded a thorough inquiry and action.
Shettar said such reports, even if it is a rumour, would cause panic among the public as these items are consumed everyday.
The BJP leader said the government should get the samples of the alleged plastic rice and sugar tested and inform people about the genuineness of such reports.
Ramesh Kumar, who responded to the issue, said government has come to know about such incidents from the media and officials have been asked to look into them.
Noting that scientists have said such a thing is not possible, he said, "I can understand, adulteration but plastic rice and sugar is something that we are hearing for the first time."
"It is also costly, so why would anyone do it," he questioned.
Stating that he will not take the "risk" of rejecting the reports straightaway as false, the minister said the government will get things examined.
"I will get hold of the information and will report it to the House on Monday. We will also conduct a thorough inquiry on the possibility of plastic and reasons behind it," he said.
The minister said government will also look into whether the reports were based on mere "gossip" that had been floated by someone with wrong intentions.
Intervening, Food and Civil Supplies Minister U T Khader said presence of plastic rice was not possible in the rice supplied under governments Anna Bhagya scheme, as rice for this purpose is being procured from the Centrally-owned Food Corporation of India.