Hyderabad: Police set to take over GHMC food safety
HYDERABAD: The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) is set to lose another key function, with its food safety department likely to be merged with the police department.
The civic body has already lost some powers to the Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA) and Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA). The government is now preparing to shift food safety enforcement from the GHMC to the police.
Senior IPS officers study food safety systems elsewhere
As part of the process, two senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officers visited Maharashtra and Karnataka and reported to the government that food safety functions did not fall under municipal bodies there.
GHMC commissioner R.V. Karnan and senior police officers are also making arrangements for the proposed merger.
On Thursday, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) conducted a training programme at the police command and control centre in Banjara Hills for 100 police personnel on measures to prevent food adulteration.
Officials said the authority to act against food adulteration would be transferred from the GHMC to the police department either before or during the upcoming Assembly session.
GHMC has already transferred several civic powers
The government has transferred the authority to protect lakes, parks, government land, roads and flood channels from the GHMC to HYDRAA.
It has also transferred approval powers for layouts and buildings above 10 floors to HMDA.
The latest move follows concerns that the GHMC was not taking effective action against food adulteration, prompting the government to initiate steps to merge its food safety department with the police.
The GHMC’s official website currently lists food safety officers among its departments.
