The compound is also used for welding purposes but fruit sellers have no qualms in using it to ripe fruits.

Dr Satpal Mehra, a retired official from the Punjab Agricultural University, said, “I went to Ghumar Mandi to buy fruits. To my shock, all the shops were selling artificially ripened fruits. Ripening of fruits with certain chemicals is permissible for they are not harmful for human brings. However, calcium carbide can cause health problems. The sad part was the entire market was selling such fruits without any fear.”

A fruit seller on the condition of anonymity said, “This is a usual practice as ripening with calcium carbide is quicker. Moreover, this artificial ripening is done by the wholesalers. We just sell the fruit that comes to us.”

Dr J S Randhawa, Head of Department of Horticulture, PAU, said, “In the absence of any checking agency, the fruit sellers continue to use calcium carbide. The Government of India has allowed the use of ethephon for ripening of fruits for it is less harmful.” Dr Randhawa added, “The use of calcium carbide is common as small packets of this chemical are made and kept with fruits. As the fruit absorbs moisture, the chemical emits ethane gas which helps to ripe the fruit. However, ripening with this chemical is not uniform and this chemical sticks to the surface of the fruit which when eaten can create a lot of health problems. In case of ethephon, the ripening is slightly cumbersome for the fruit sellers have to either dip the fruit in a solution of this mixture or pass fumes of this chemical through the fruits.”