WB: Non-Veg Supplies in Govt Hospitals under strict monitor

Carcass meat was collected from different dumps in and around the city and used to be stored in cold storage. From there only, it was supplied to the restaurants and departmental stores.

Kolkata: The West Bengal Health Department has strictly ordered the district health officials to increase monitoring of non-vegetarian food served in state-run hospitals. This action taken by the state government is pursuant to the busting of a racket in selling rotten meat.

Confirming the order, Ajay Chakraborty, West Bengal's Director of Health Services, told IANS over phone, "Chief Medical Officers of Health of all districts have been directed to monitor non-vegetarian food and raw meat supplied/served in state hospitals on a regular basis. The condition of food items needs to be checked before it enters hospitals."

He added that no written circulars have been issued yet. “It is more of a verbal caution to authorities concerned to be extra careful," he said.

The exposure of the racket in the sale of carcass meat collected from dumps to hotels and departmental stores in Kolkata and adjoining suburbs operating all over the capital has shocked the public and forced state authorities to raid eateries in and around the city.

During the raids, the police had seized almost 20 tonnes of animal meat last week from a cold storage in North Kolkata and detained ten persons for the crime.

As per the information, carcass meat was collected from different dumps in and around the city and used to be stored in cold storage. From there only, it was supplied to the restaurants and departmental stores.

“The Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries Department too has instructed all poultry owners to send regular reports on the condition of poultry and warned of strict actions if dead birds are found on poultry farms during inspections,” an official informed the news agency.

Moreover, a police source informed IANS, “Police was trying to prepare a detailed list of departmental stores and eateries where such meat was supplied while looking into an international angle to the racket, amid suspicion that the rotten meat was supplied also to neighbouring countries of Bangladesh and Nepal.”

Four days ago, eight persons were arrested for alleged involvement in trade of rotten chickens.