Corporation determined to continue hotel raids
Corporation determined to continue hotel raids

Even as confusion prevails on who could be termed the sole authority responsible to conduct raids on hotels, the Corporation will re-start raids on all hotels and other food stalls in and around the city on Wednesday. According to Corporation health standing chairman T K Ashraf, they will continue to raid hotels despite stiff opposition from the latter.

In an open forum on ‘Safety is Every Citizen’s Right’ conducted by the Corporation on Monday, the Hotel Association members locked horns with the Corporation. They stated that the authority to execute powers over the hotels and other food stalls were with the Food Safety officers. They also expressed their strong protest against the Corporation stating that the powers of the local bodies to conduct raids on hotels were long repealed once the Food Safety and Standards Act came into being since 2006.

The hotel owners also alleged that most of the hotels were being closed without prior notice.

However, speaking for the Corporation, Health Inspector Sasikumar pointed out that the local bodies have the rights to raid hotels as per the Kerala Municipality Act. “We are not shutting down any hotel on account of stale food. Only those that were found to be in the most pathetic of conditions were asked to be shut,” he said.

Food Craft Institute, Kalamassery Principle Sam Thomas viewed that lack of Malayalis taking up work at hotels was giving  opportunities to migrants from other states, and this has been impacting the hygiene standards. “The cleanliness level among them is lower and this is a serious factor that should be considered,” he said..Food Safety Officer Abdul Jaleel, Vegetable and Food Promotion Council member Joji K Mathew, Advocate Jayashankar, EDRAACH president Ranagadasa Prabhu, Mayor Tony Chammany, Deputy Mayor B Bhadra and members of the Hotel Owners Association and the Bakery Owners Association were also present.

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