Hyderabad: The Telangana Government is considering the creation of a unified Food Safety and Drug Control Department to strengthen its fight against food adulteration, unsafe food practices and the growing menace of narcotics. The proposed department is expected to integrate enforcement, legal, forensic and prosecution functions under a single administrative framework, enabling faster and more coordinated action against offenders.
The proposal has gained momentum amid increasing concerns over food safety violations in Hyderabad, where the Hyderabad Food Administration and Safety Task Force (H-FAST) has uncovered widespread cases of adulteration, unhygienic food handling and the sale of unsafe food products.
DGP C.V. Anand Advocates Unified Enforcement Mechanism
Speaking on the proposed initiative, Director General of Police (DGP) C.V. Anand said the new department would function under a single head and would be supported by a dedicated enforcement wing capable of carrying out inspections, investigations and prosecutions more effectively.
According to the DGP, the department would combine multiple functions—including enforcement, legal support, forensic analysis and prosecution—within a single institutional framework, ensuring better coordination among agencies involved in food safety and drug control.
He said the proposal has emerged in response to increasing public concern over food adulteration, rising health issues linked to unsafe food, and the spread of narcotics.
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Dedicated Enforcement Wing Proposed
A key feature of the proposed department is the creation of a specialised enforcement wing.
DGP Anand said this wing could be staffed by personnel made available following the ongoing downsizing of the elite police units Greyhounds and OCTOPUS. Deploying trained personnel in the new department would strengthen enforcement capabilities and enable swift action against organised food adulteration networks and drug-related offences.
H-FAST Exposes Scale of Food Safety Violations
The proposal comes against the backdrop of the extensive work carried out by the Hyderabad Food Administration and Safety Task Force (H-FAST), whose inspections have exposed the alarming extent of food safety violations across Hyderabad.
Officials noted that the wide variety of adulterated food items seized and repeated instances of unhygienic food preparation and storage highlight the magnitude of the problem.
The proposed state-level department is expected to build upon the operational model developed by H-FAST, expanding its reach across Telangana with stronger institutional support and enforcement powers.
Focus on Food Adulteration and Narcotics
According to DGP Anand, the government views food adulteration and narcotics as interconnected public safety challenges requiring a coordinated response.
The proposed department is expected to:
- Strengthen enforcement against food adulteration.
- Improve monitoring of food manufacturing, storage and distribution.
- Enhance forensic capabilities for testing food and drug samples.
- Expedite legal proceedings and prosecution against offenders.
- Support coordinated action against narcotics-related offences.
- Improve public health protection through stricter regulatory oversight.
Inter-Departmental Discussions Underway
DGP Anand said extensive discussions among various government departments have already taken place regarding the proposed institutional restructuring.
He described the consultations as productive and expressed confidence that the initiative would move forward quickly, reflecting the government’s commitment to protecting public health and strengthening regulatory enforcement.
If approved, the unified Food Safety and Drug Control Department is expected to significantly enhance Telangana’s capacity to tackle food adulteration, unsafe food handling and narcotics through a more integrated, technology-driven and enforcement-oriented approach.
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