Express News Service By

HYDERABAD: Expressing dissatisfaction with the Telangana and Andhra Pradesh governments for failure to take concrete steps to overcome the problem of artificial ripening of fruits with carbide chemical and in creating awareness among the citizens about the ill effects of consuming such fruits, a division bench of the High Court on Friday directed the principal secretaries of agriculture and marketing of both the states to appear in person in the court on the next date of hearing (February 1).

The bench, comprising acting chief justice Dilip B Bhosale and justice SV Bhatt, gave the direction on a PIL which was taken up suo motu based on a news report published in a vernacular daily last year.

On an earlier occasion, the bench directed the two states to take steps for establishment of ‘ethylene chambers’ for ripening fruits by the stakeholders and for its close monitoring by the authorities to overcome the problem of availability of carbide fruits on the markets.

During hearing, the bench found that the governments had failed to implement its previous orders in the case. It asked the special government pleaders of both states why its orders were not implemented.

The bench asked both the states to keep it informed on the concrete action being taken going forward.