From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Jul 17: Beware of eating ripe Mangoes, Bananas and other fruits.

The issue of fruits being ripened by the use of chemicals like Calcium Carbide in Karnataka Legislative Assembly with members expressing serious concern over the health hazards posed by consuming such fruits.

Raising the issue during the question hour, BJP member CT Ravi said use of these hazardous chemicals is posing serious health problems.

The chemicals could even lead to cancer and other ailments, he said.

The BJP member asked the State Government as to what measures have been taken to curb this practice.

BJP member Suresh Kumar and Shivalinge Gowda of JD(S) drew the attention of the government to the practice of injecting chemicals into water melons to make them ripe faster by the traders and middlemen.

State Horticulture Minister Shamanuru Shivashankarappa, in his reply, assured action against such traders and middlemen.

Deputy Commissioners of the districts have been instructed to book cases against those who indulge in such practices. Food and Health department officials have conducted raids in Mysuru, Ballari, Chitradurga and other districts and seized stocks of fruits ripened using chemicals, he said.

Public awareness is being created against use of chemicals for ripening of fruits through TV and other media.

Training camps are being conducted for farmers and traders on healthy methods for ripening of fruits, he said.