Bengal gets its second food testing lab in Siliguri

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee inaugurated the state-of-the-art lab through remote control, from an administrative meeting held at Pailan in South 24-Parganas on Monday.

The lab, under the Health and Family Welfare department, is located on Hill Cart Road in the heart of Siliguri. It has been built at a cost of around Rs 1 crore.

"The lab will benefit the entire North Bengal region. Earlier, food and drink samples requiring testing were being sent to the central combined lab located on Convent Road, Kolkata. It was a time consuming process. Now, with the same tests being conducted in this state-of-the-art lab in Siliguri, we will save a lot of time," stated Rudra Nath Bhattacharjee, Chairman of the Rogi Kalyan Samity, North Bengal Medical College and former MLA.

All food and drinks can be tested for adulteration and contamination in this lab. Even the quality of edibles can be tested here. Along with tests commissioned by government departments, private tests will also be allowed against a nominal fee.