Stray animals on the campus of the laboratory in Patna on Monday. Picture by Sachin

Absence of a food analyst has brought work at the Combined Food and Drug Laboratory at Agamkuan to a standstill for the past eight months. Many other key positions there, too, are vacant for years.

The food-testing section at the facility — the only food and drug-testing laboratory in the state — has four laboratory technicians, each drawing monthly salaries ranging from Rs 20,000 to Rs 25,000, with no duties to perform.

According to a source in the health department’s food safety authority, an analyst tests food samples for adulteration with the help of assistants. “No testing is being done here for the past eight months because of the absence of a food analyst. We have no option but to come at 10am and stay till 5pm despite having no work,” a laboratory technician told The Telegraph. Asked about his routine, he said: “We try to spend time reading books on testing procedures.”

Food safety commissioner-cum-health secretary Sanjay Kumar said: “I regret that the files regarding the vacancies at the facility are pending at the state health minister’s office for the past several months.”

Sources said 25 per cent of 250 to 300 food samples tested daily were found adulterated. At present, the food samples are sent to the Mineral Area Development Authority laboratory in Dhanbad for which the state food authority pays Rs 200 per sample apart from courier charges.

“J.K. Singh, the last food analyst who left eight months ago, worked on a year-long contract basis after retirement. His contract was neither renewed nor any new food analyst hired thereafter. We published advertisements for the vacancy last year but got no applications. Bihar hardly has qualified persons to take up the food analyst’s job. The analyst needs to have an MSc in chemistry and to pass the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India test,” said a senior official of the food safety authority wing of the health department.

According to the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, the testing report should be sent to the authority concerned within 14 days of receiving the sample so that they can take quick action. However, the Dhanbad laboratory takes 15 to 20 days to send the test report. “We are helpless. The Dhanbad laboratory takes 15 to 20 days to send the report. What can we do?” added the official.

The laboratory is also functioning without a director and deputy director for years. “The laboratory does not have a director for more than 10 years and a deputy director for six to seven years. Many other posts like those of assistant director, public analyst and assistant public analyst are lying vacant,” said the official.

Sanitation issues in and around the laboratory also pose major health concerns. The laboratory is laden with thick layers of dust and cattle graze on the campus. The sweeper hardly works properly. “The drains overflow with rainwater and floods the laboratory,” said a technician.