Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration said it inspected 3,137 hotels, restaurants, eateries and other food establishments across the state between May 25 and July 31, and seized or destroyed 28.66 lakh kg of unsafe food products valued at Rs 55.72 crore. The agency also suspended the licences of 165 establishments as part of the drive, FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe said on Wednesday.
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Mundhe said the crackdown also covered prohibited food products, with gutka and pan masala worth Rs 15.11 crore detected at 658 outlets. He said the department registered 519 FIRs, arrested 701 people, sealed 407 establishments and confiscated 78 vehicles during the period, while rejecting allegations by some hotel owners that the action had been selective.
“The FDA inspected 3,137 food establishments during May 25 and July 31. We issued 764 improvement notices and suspended licences of 165 establishments after due process. Food products weighing 28.66 lakh kg, valued at Rs 55.72 crore, were seized or destroyed,” Mundhe told reporters.
According to the FDA commissioner, the inspections covered 487 milk establishments, where 218 improvement notices were issued, 33 licences were suspended and 11 FIRs were registered. In the milk products segment, the FDA inspected 476 establishments, issued 196 improvement notices, suspended 16 licences and filed two FIRs.
He said the FDA also inspected 890 hotels, restaurants and eateries, issued 329 improvement notices and suspended the licences of 116 establishments. Another 608 establishments dealing with other food products were inspected, and items worth around Rs 36 crore were seized, he added.
Clarifying that licence suspension does not mean permanent closure, Mundhe said the FDA holds hearings before revoking suspensions once food safety norms are met.
“Out of the 165 licence suspension cases, we have received 103 appeals. Interim relief has been granted in eligible cases after verification of compliance, allowing them to resume operations. Every Tuesday I conduct hearings, and if minor deficiencies remain, fresh hearings are held before a final order is passed,” he said. He added that orders had been reserved in 38 cases, while 35 remained pending.
Mundhe said the enforcement drive had led to a clear improvement in hygiene standards. “We record photographs and videos before and after compliance to verify improvements. The facilities at many establishments have improved drastically,” he said.
He added that the FDA was focusing on “Empowerment, Enabling and Enforcement” by increasing public participation through a toll-free helpline, an online portal and direct interaction with citizens, while also ensuring strict enforcement of food safety rules.
Responding to criticism from some hotel operators, Mundhe said, “We have not given selective or VIP treatment to any establishment. Out of 890 hotels, restaurants and eateries inspected, only 329 were issued improvement notices and 116 faced licence suspension. It is incorrect to suggest that the FDA only suspends licences. Around 20 per cent of the inspected establishments faced strict action.”
He said every establishment that receives an improvement notice is given 15 days to correct deficiencies.
“The state government’s only concern is that people should not consume unsafe food or drugs. We have photographic and video evidence of every inspection. If any establishment approaches the court, it is their legal right and we will respond accordingly. The law empowers designated officers to suspend licences only where they believe unsafe food poses a grave danger,” he added.
– Ends
SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
