The Delhi government has banned the use of calcium carbide for artificial ripening of fruits, recognising its harmful effects of health, and suggested ethylene gas as an alternate technique.

"Use of calcium carbide for artificially ripening the fruits is banned in Delhi under the PFA (Prevention of food adulteration) Act," Delhi Health Minister A K Walia has said.

Walia had chaired a meeting of state officials, scientists from ICAR and mango traders here yesterday to discuss the alternate techniques for maturing of fruits.

Officials from department of prevention of food adulteration, scientists from Shri Ram Institute of Industrial research and representatives of Mother Dairy were also present.

Based on inputs provided by the experts, the minister said ethylene gas can be used as alternate technique for ripening of fruits, which is not harmful.

"The fruits ripened with Ethylene have more acceptable colour than naturally ripened fruits and have more shelf-life than fruits ripened with calcium carbide," Walia had said.

Horticulture experts say that calcium carbide used for ripening of the king of fruits is carcinogenic and thus the final product is cancerous.

The minister said the government is soon going to organise special awareness campaign to spread awareness among the fruit traders and merchants for the adoption of ethylene as an alternative medium for ripening of fruits.

"The technique is also said to be very cost effective, so it won't affect the customer," Walia said, adding, similar technique is already being used by Mother Dairy and a few states.

Sudesh J Schdeva, President of Mango Merchant Association at Azadpur (Asia's biggest fruit and vegetable wholesale market) said a group of ICAR scientists are expected to visit the market tomorrow to educate mango merchants about advantages of ethylene gas for artificial ripening of the fruit.

The national capital receives over 200 trucks of mangoes containing about 10 tonnes of the fruit daily from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Himachal Pradesh and South India, Sachdeva added.