‘Sealed’ milk unit found working

Tribune News Service
Patiala, August 16

Caught making cheese and milk allegedly by using chemicals, Singla Chilling Centre, which was sealed last year, was today again raided and sealed after acid, caustic soda, ammonia and vinegar were recovered from its premises.

In a late evening raid, the police, along with health officials, sealed the centre running without the approval of the authorities.

Patiala SSP Mandeep Singh Sidhu said they recovered 10-quintal cheese, 99 bags of milk powder, 50-kg butter, 32 vinegar drums of 20 litres each, 2,500 litres of prepared milk, 20-kg desi ghee, three ammonia drums of 40 litres each, 20 bags of 50 kg each of caustic soda and over 400 litres of acid. “There was no permission to run the unit which was sealed last year in August after we raided it,” he said.

“Sweets shops in Patiala, Sangrur, Haryana, Ludhiana and smaller districts were buying cheese from him at Rs 120 to 150 per kg, while the market rate is over Rs 250,” Sidhu said.

The centre was found disposing of acid and other liquids into underground pits and the PPCB was also informed in 2018 about the violation. However, it took no action.

According to sources, a tempo loaded with cheese was stopped at a naka in Rajpura. “The driver revealed that it was being brought from Singla Chilling Centre in Devigarh and was meant for some sweets shops. We immediately rushed to the unit but the owner and his workers managed to escape. We have arrested two men,” the police said.