(a) whether the Government has received complaints from the armed forces personnel regarding poor quality of food items and other goods being made available in the Canteen Stores Department (CSD) canteens;
(b) if so, the details thereof and the action taken by the Government to ensure quality of the goods;
(c) whether some suppliers have been blacklisted/penalized for supplying inferior quality material to the canteens; and
(d) if so, the details thereof?
MINISTER OF DEFENCE (SHRI A.K. ANTONY)
(a) to (d): Yes, Madam. Two specific complaints have been received through Unit Run Canteens during the year 2010-11 regarding deviation of quality of two food items, namely:-
(i) Kashmir khus walnuts valued at Rs.25,591/-; and
(ii) Sharbat Rooh Afza valued at Rs.8,23,975/-. Total amount:- Rs.8,49,566/-.
Mechanisms are in place to test and verify the quality of products being sold through Canteen Stores Department. In the event of a product not meeting the laid down standards, penalty as per departmental policy is imposed on the supplier firms. In the case of the above two complaints, based on the Central Food Laboratory’s report, a total amount of Rs.8,49,566/- has been recovered from the suppliers.