GHMC shuts illegal Raj Flavors and Fragrances warehouse at RTC Crossroads

Hyderabad: The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) vigilance and enforcement team seized an unlicensed warehouse belonging to Raj Flavours and Fragrances at RTC Crossroads on Thursday.

The unit was found functioning out of one of the floors of the Tapadia Diagnostics building.

Operating without a license

According to officials, the warehouse was engaged in the production of bakery-related flavours and fragrances but did not possess a valid trade license.

“Any commercial activity must be supported by the appropriate trade license. In this case, the operators had bypassed legal requirements,” said KV Ravi, a GHMC enforcement officer speaking to NewsMeter.

Excessive use of chemical substances found

During the raid, GHMC staff reported the use of what they described as ‘excessive chemical substances’ in the production process.

This raised concerns about the quality and safety of the products being supplied.

“We found large quantities of chemicals that were not properly labelled or stored. Such practices pose risks not only to consumers but also to the workers inside the warehouse,” the officer added.

Locals complained of unusual odours

Local residents had earlier submitted complaints about the warehouse’s operations, citing unusual odours and safety hazards.

“We had been noticing strong chemical smells for weeks. It was affecting our daily lives and health,” said Praveen Keshav, a resident of the area. Following these complaints, the GHMC initiated an inspection that led to Thursday’s seizure.

The seized premises have been sealed, and samples of the materials have been sent for testing. GHMC officials confirmed that further investigations are underway to determine the scale of operations and whether the products had already reached the market.

“We will continue to monitor and take strict action against units operating without proper authorisation,” the enforcement officer stated.