Bhubaneswar: Amid spread of water-borne diseases in several areas, Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) and Food Safety Department launched a crackdown on eateries, fruit stalls, hotels, and eateries in the capital city on Monday.
According to officials, a team conducted inspections near SUM Hospital and checked roadside vendors, fruit sellers, and small restaurants.
During the coordinated raids, stale food items and fish, expired bread, and discoloured eatables were seized and destroyed by the officials on the spot. Penalty was also imposed for storing and selling stale food.
A fine of Rs 3,000 was imposed on a hotel for storing and preparing stale fish, while many vendors were warned or penalised for operating in unhygienic conditions.
The crackdown comes in the wake of some cases of diarrhoea surfacing in Niladri Vihar and an apartment in Ghatikia area of Bhubaneswar.
Apart from food items, samples of drinking water and raw food materials were also being collected by the officials for laboratory test. Raids would also be conducted on food sellers in areas attracting large gatherings. Eateries near Railway Station, Biju Patnaik International Airport (BPIA), and major tourist hotspots would be targeted.
As per officials, the operation is part of efforts to prevent spread of water-borne diseases such as diarrhoea and cholera during monsoon.
Stressing the need for raising public awareness and hygiene, officials urged people to be cautious about where and what they eat, especially during the ongoing Raja festival, when community dining and feasting are common.
As pert of the exercise to ensure public health safety in the city, the food preparation conditions of eateries and roadside stalls are being assessed. Expired food products are also being seized and destroyed.
The crackdown in Bhubaneswar comes amid cholera outbreak in several areas of the state, particularly Jajpur district. The death toll due to diarrhoea in Jajpur has touched seven, while the water-borne disease has reportedly spread to districts like Bhadrak, Cuttack, Keonjhar, and Dhenkanal.
