Live
- Style Banarasi with these 5 modern twist this wedding season
- Akansha flaunts seductive look
- Ajith requests fans to drop ‘Kadavuley’ tag, prefers simplicity
- ‘Pushpa 2’ BTS: Rashmika’s transformation as Srivalli
- Sreeleela inaugurates South India Shopping Mall at Ongole
- Nuveksha steals the spotlight
- Rana’s wife Miheeka take social media by storm
- Inter-state burglar arrested
- Traffic diversions for ‘Vision’ meet
- YSRCP stir for MSP today
Eat ‘junk food’ at your own risk
Highlights
Even as raids have been progressing at roadside eateries functioning during evenings, they have been doing brisk business in the city.
Kakinada: Even as raids have been progressing at roadside eateries functioning during evenings, they have been doing brisk business in the city.
The district headquarters, Kakinada, is far removed from even basic mechanism and resolve to provide the denizens of a healthy urban life. A case in point is the apathy of officials in cracking a whip on food joints which are paying scant attention to the basic hygiene.
No rules are applicable for these ‘eateries on wheels’, which usually appear only after dusk. Poor quality of stored water, use of non-permitted colours and repeatedly used oils are some of the potential health hazards at the roadside eateries.
Dishes are being cooked on pavements and many of the vendors leave the prepared stuff uncovered.
Many of them function near clogged canals emanating nauseating stench. Some of them function amidst huge garbage dumps. Aggravating the problem, the roadside eateries themselves leave huge mounds of waste on roadside every night.
In its transformation from a rustic town to a decent city, several eateries have sprung on the roadside to cater to the needs of migrant workers and low-income groups, who cannot afford costly food at the restaurants. However, those running these food joints are least bothered about the hygiene as officials concerned turn a blind eye to them.
As one can observe, these centres have come up in all important locations from MSN Charities Centre on one end to Sarpavaram junction on the other end.
Municipal and Health departments’ officials who are supposed to keep a tab on these food joints are taking up inspections as a mere tokenism without any concrete action to rein in the offenders.
Social activist and former municipal councillor D Ramana Raju alleged that the pushcart vendors and hawkers grease the palms of officials, by offering monthly tips, to save themselves from inspection.
Indian Medical Association Kakinada unit president Dr. Ram Swaroop Jawahar observed that consumption of food prepared under such conditions would lead to gastroenteritis, typhoid and other stomach disorders.
When contacted Kakinada Municipal Corporation Health Officer Dr. P Sailaja said they would take up awareness programmes for those who run eateries and help them understand the need to follow basic hygiene in preparation of food items.
She also warned of stern action if they fail to follow the directives issued by the civic body to maintain hygiene.
She said mushrooming roadside eateries and their increasing clientele is a cause for concern. The food items that are kept in the open at roadsides can cause many diseases. Absence of a proper mechanism to check unhygienic practices increases the risk, she added.
Anjaneyulu L
Next Story
ADVERTISEMENT
