200 boxes of mangoes, chemicals seized

Guntur: Vigilance and Enforcement department simultaneously conducted raids on mango markets in Guntur city and Tenali town and noticed that the traders using chemical for artificial ripening of the fruit which was banned in the country.

The traders have been importing the chemical from China and using it for artificial ripening of the fruit which is harmful to the consumers. The officials seized the chemical and fruits and sent to the lab for conducting tests.

Earlier, the farmers used carbide for artificial ripening of the fruit. The traders keep ethilin packets in the fruit stocks. The fruit will ripe within 18 hours.The VE officials seized 200 boxes of mango fruits.

Vigilance CI Anthony Raju, DCTOs Gadde Nageswara Rao, Majety Srinivasa Rao, AO Venkateswara Rao, participated in the raids.SI Narne SrinivasaRao led the raids in Tenali town. The VE officials have been sending a report to the government.