Plea on 'plastic' rice in Delhi: HC seeks AAP govt reply

The Delhi High Court today sought the response of AAP government on a plea alleging that rice made out of plastic, imported from China, was being sold in the national capital and seeking testing of samples.
A bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice Jayant Nath issued notice to Delhi government and asked them to file their counter on the application which has alleged that the "plastic rice" was being sold by mixing it with real rice.
The application was filed in an ongoing PIL on the issue of an artificial colouring of fruits and vegetables, as well as the presence of banned pesticides in them and in which the Centre has already issued guidelines for monitoring of chemical residues in farm products.

The court also asked Delhi government to file report on the steps they have taken to curb the usage of the pesticide residue or coloring matter in fruits and vegetable.
The court has now fixed the matter for further hearing on November 4.
The application by advocate Sugriva Dubey, has sought that wholesale traders of rice, pulses and fruits be raided and samples tested for adulteration to protect the common man.

It has said plastic rice, when ingested, cannot be digested and causes serious gastric ailments.
"Due to globalisation, rice in large quantities is being imported from China and even pulses are being imported from different countries, but no quality test is conducted," the application has said.

It has alleged that the rice imported from China also includes "plastic rice" and ordinary persons cannot differentiate between it and the real rice.
The plea has also alleged that fruits, like mangoes, are being ripened artificially by using calcium carbide or other chemicals.