The Food and Civil Supplies Department of Assam Government has seized 2552 metric tonnes of salt imported from Gujarat at Changsari railway station near the city on Friday last. The seized salts were meant for Public Distribution System (PDS) in Kamrup district of the state.
This was the second seizure of salt in huge quantity within a week. Earlier, the department had seized huge quantity of salt imported from Gujarat to the state at Tezpur in Sonitpur district.
Based on series of complains about poor quality of salts being distributed through PDS system to common masses, the Food and Civil Supplies department of Kamrup district had carried out a raid at Changsari railway station where Railway wagon loaded with salt were unloaded.
The officials found that the imported salt in packets had no manufacturing and expiry dates as well as no mention of quantity every packet has and no price tag.
Sources said that the seized salts are brought in 42 wagons of a train and each wagon carries 60 tonnes of salt. One rake carries 2,500 tonnes of salt. Gujarat produces 2.6 crore tonnes of salt per year of which 80-90% is exported.
The rake of salt was allotted to M/ s. P M Enterprise Guwahati by the Government of Assam. Two businessmen named Pradip Kumar Jain and Manju Devi Jain were responsible for importing the salt to PDS system in the district.
Later a team of officials collected sample of the seized salt and sent it to laboratory of the department to test whether it was fit for human consumption or not.
There have been huge allegations against many firms supplying salt to PDS system in Assam responsible for importing poor quality of salt. It was believed that a section of corrupt officials always back these dubious civil supply items firm.
The Salt Commissioner's Organisation is responsible for equitable distribution of salt in the country. In coordination with Railways Distribution and Movement of salt from production centers to consuming states is planned by Salt Commissionerate. Any salt manufacturer can transport salt by rail for human or industrial consumption. However there is a nationwide ban on sale of non-iodised salt for human consumption as only Iodised salt can be booked by rail for the cause.
Only Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan produce salt surplus to their requirement and cater the requirement for edible and industrial consumption of other region of the country. Hence it is imperative that salt, being an essential commodity, reaches every nook and corner of the country regularly in time to prevent any scarcity. About 57 per cent of salt for human consumption moves by rail and the rest by road.
Railway Board, New Delhi, in 2006 had introduced simplification of procedure for registration of indents of salt rakes . No indent for human consumption salt rake will be accepted without the valid certificate issued by the Salt Commissioner or his authorized agents.
Movement of salt to North Eastern States (except Meghalaya) is planned under quarterly programmes and issued in consultation with state governments. Governments of these states prepare a list of nominees authorizing them to procure iodised salt for human consumption every quarter and forward it to Salt Commissioner. In respect of salt iodisation units who are granted permission in consuming states, movement of common salt for iodisation at their units is allowed and programmed.
