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Dimapur, June 17 (EMN): Reacting to news report in which rice bags allegedly mixed with ‘plastic rice’ was reportedly sold at Naharbari in Dimapur, the Nagaland Voluntary Consumers’ Organisation (NVCO) has termed it as a serious crime and could cause health hazard especially during this pandemic.
Stating that such unfair trade practices by unscrupulous traders in the state should not be tolerated, NVCO appealed to the Dimapur administration, police, food and civil supplies, food safety officers to prosecute whoever was involved in the case.
Mentioning that NVCO had celebrated the ‘World Food Safety Day’ on June 7, NVCO president Kezhokhoto Savi has expressed surprise to note unscrupulous traders indulging in adulteration of basic food which could cause severe health hazards. He has questioned the state government on the prevalence of such malpractices in Nagaland including the rice adulteration case at Naharbari and the Kohima LPG pilfering case with the contents of 70 percent water mixed with LPG (cooking gas)’ which was never practice in other states/cities in the country.
NVCO has appealed to the state government to seriously look into all those illegal trade practices in the state especially in the midst of this ongoing pandemic which has added more threat to the consumers’ health.
NVCO also urged the state machinery to seriously investigate the case so as to establish strong evidence to prosecute the culprits and bring an end to all such illegal trade practices in the state.
Meanwhile, NVCO urged the consumers to remain informed and alert at all times, especially while buying goods and availing services so as not to allow the unscrupulous traders to cheat or exploit them. NVCO also asked consumers to avail services of the state consumer helpline No. 1800 – 345 – 3701 to address their day-to-day problems.