Despite a ban by the state Horticulture Department, the use of harmful chemicals like calcium carbide by vendors to ripen fruits continues unabated. Whether it is the wholesale market at Narwal mandi or small vendors selling different fruits on roadsides, there has been no let up in the malpractices in ripening fruits. Pertinently, calcium carbide is a known carcinogen, a cancer-producing chemical which is known to have harmful effects on the liver and other parts of the body. It also contains traces of arsenic and phosphorus hydride which produce several…
Read MoreUse of banned calcium carbide continues to ripen fruits
