The Hatton Magistrate’s Court has ordered the destruction of 1,740 kilograms of dhal deemed unfit for human consumption and seized during an operation in Kotagala.
The stock of insect-infested lentils was seized by Public Health Inspectors (PHIs) attached to the Kotagala Medical Officer of Health (MOH) office during an inspection of a wholesale store in Kotagala.
The consignment was produced before the Hatton District Judge and Magistrate today (09), who ordered the PHIs to destroy it by pouring kerosene over the stock.
The owner of the consignment admitted the offence before court and was fined Rs. 2,000 by the Magistrate.
Following the court order, the stock of dhal was transported to the waste recycling centre operated by the Talawakelle-Lindula Urban Council, where Public Health Inspectors carried out its destruction.
The seized stock is estimated to have a market value of around Rs. 522,000.
According to health officials, the consignment was discovered during an inspection conducted recently by PHIs from the Kotagala MOH office, after it was found concealed inside a warehouse in Kotagala.
