The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Monday issued notices to the Jharkhand government and the Centre over reported spurious milk selling in Dhanbad. NHRC notice was issued after it took suo motu cognizance of a local media report (on December 30, 2022), that refined and caustic soda is being mixed in one litre of milk to make it 15 litres of spurious and fake milk to reap profits in Dhanbad.

As per an NHRC release, reportedly, earlier only water used to be mixed with milk but now urea, surf and starch are being used to make spurious milk to earn profit at the cost of the health of the people. This spurious milk cannot be detected even by a lactometer.

Reportedly, spurious milk may lead to stomach infection leading to cancer. The commission has observed that the contents of the media report, if true, amount to a violation of rights related health of the people. However, going by its contents, prima facie, it appears to be culpable negligence on the part of the public servants.

Accordingly, it has issued notices to the chief secretary, Director General of Police, Jharkhand and the Director General, Health Services, Union ministry of health and family welfare calling for the reports within six weeks on the matter.

“The chief secretary has been asked to submit a detailed report on the prevalence of spurious milk selling; the DGP has been specifically asked about the registration of FIRs by mentioning the penal offences invoked, the progress of the investigation and the details of the accused persons if any. The report must also mention the preventive actions, initiated by the Police,” said NHRC spokesperson.

“The Director General, Health Services, who is ex-officio chairman of the Central Committee for Food Standards has to submit a report regarding the preventive action taken or proposed to be taken to eradicate selling of spurious milk and other food items in the state of Jharkhand,” added the spokesperson.

The commission has further observed that despite the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act in force, it appears that it is not being implemented effectively in Jharkhand.

The act provides enormous power for inspecting any place where the food item is manufactured, stored for sale or even the food items have been kept for making adulterated.

The power has also been given to seize such adulterated food items and to take all legal actions against the seller or manufacturer of food items.

According to the media report, there is a demand for 3 lakh litres of milk in Dhanbad, while production is only 1.90 lakh litres. This is the reason that there is a big market for spurious milk.