Maharashtra FDA (Food and Drug Administration) will inaugurate in fourth food laboratory within a year-and-a-half. This facility will be located in Nagpur, where a lab is already functional. The others are located in Mumbai and Aurangabad.
State FDA commissioner Pallavi Darade informed that a sum of Rs 17 crore was sanctioned for the plot on which the lab would be set up.
She added, “The amount will be used to build a large complex, which will include an office and labs. The building will be four- or five-storeyed, and is expected to be completed in a year-and-a half. Excluding a microbiology lab, it will have everything, and will be a facility for food and drug tests.”
Besides, the FDA has also made plans to set up another lab at its headquarters in Mumbai. A proposal was sent to the government in this regard.
Darade said, “Recently, we have submitted a proposal for the construction of a microbiology lab at the Mumbai office and are in the process of further increasing the space of the already existing labs.”
“So on the fourth floor of the Mumbai office, a full lab can be set up, along with a cabin for the assistant director of the lab. Moreover, major infrastructure expansion is underway to strengthen the lab. These include the installation of new machinery.”
It is not only the shortage of labs, but manpower crunch is also plaguing the operations of the state FDA. Thus, it is also planning to open a staff training centre in Mumbai.
The proposal is already been sent to the state government. But considering the financial constraints the government of Maharashtra is facing, FDA has sought permission to run running such centres at the Mumbai office until a regular centre is approved.
Darade said, “What we are suggesting that until the proposal is approved, we could run such a training centre at our Mumbai offices for lab activities on our own. We have some space available with us that can be used for training purposes, immediately.”
Mobile testing labs
According to Maharashtra FDA, mobile testing labs in the state need to be strengthened, as the available instruments are not adequate enough to serve the state.
There are three mobile testing vans in Maharashtra and all are in a working condition. While one serves Pune, the second serves Nashik and Aurangabad and the third serves Amravati and Nagpur.
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Darade said, “The feedback I have received is that the mobile vans need further strengthening in terms of manpower, instrument and handling. It is our priority, and these facilities would be available where immediate access to labs are not (for instance, in rural areas, at small places and in fairs, yatras and festivals.”
Health labs
In another move undertaken by Maharashtra FDA recently, a proposal was submitted to health department, suggesting that hand 14 health department labs across state be handed over to it.
Darade said, “The health department only does the checking of salt (iodised salt) and water (apart from bottled water).”
“In case it hands the task over to us, we would be undertaking our own check, plus whatever is their mandate of checking, as we have the infrastructure ready at our lab,” she added.
