48.40 quintals of Chinese garlic seized after GPlus report; DCs & SDOs of all districts instructed to check the sale of the spice
GUWAHATI: Authorities have started taking action against the sale of banned Chinese garlic across Guwahati and have seized several consignments in the process. The action comes in the wake of GPlus reporting the rampant sale of Chinese garlic across Guwahati and in other parts of Assam.
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GPlus published the report under the title “The Garlic Invasion” in its January 11 edition. Following it, the Commissioner, Food, Public Distribution, Consumer Affairs and Legal Metrology vide Commissionerate Order No. E file No. 491929/10 dated 13.01.2025 constituted a cell to check the sale of Chinese garlic.
“The cell was entrusted with the responsibility to stop the sale of Chinese garlic in the open markets of Guwahati city, and proper investigation and regulation of Acts and Rules in Guwahati (both wholesale and retail markets),” said a senior official of the commissionerate of food, public distribution, consumer affairs and legal metrology.
On January 16, the officials of the special cell visited Pamohi market located at Gorchuk and Brahmaputra Bazar at Beharbari to check the unauthorised sale of Chinese garlic.
“At the time of inspection in the Brahmaputra Bazar of Beharbari, he team detected two vehicles ( No. AS-01-PC 3752 and AS-23-FC1424). One was loaded with 116 packets of Chinese garlic ( @ 20.00 Kg per packet) with a net weight of 23.20 quintals,” said the official. The other vehicle was loaded with 126 packets weighing 25.20 quintals. One of the drivers, however, managed to flee.
The seized garlic has been kept in the custody of one Jayanta Patowary, an employee of the godown of Guwahati Wholesale Consumers Co-operative Store located at Beharbari. Both the seized vehicles have been kept at Basistha Police Station for safe custody.
The next day raids were carried out in several markets, but the officials did not find anyone selling Chinese garlic.
“Further, the Commissioner, FPD &CA instructed all the Principal Secretaries of Autonomous Councils, District Commissioners and Sub-Divisional Officers (Civil) to inspect and immediately stop the sale of Chinese garlic in the open markets under their respective jurisdiction and instructed to take strict emergent action against the defaulters as per provision of existing laws and rules on the unauthorised sale of Chinese garlic in the state,” said the official.
