Uttarakhand eateries on Kanwar Yatra route must display food licenses

Dehradun: The Uttarakhand government has made it mandatory for eateries on the Kanwar Yatra route to prominently display their food licenses or registration certificates.

Owners of hotels, dhabas, food carts and stalls along the pilgrimage route will have to display a clean copy of their license or registration certificate prominently so that consumers can easily see it, Health Secretary and Commissioner Food Safety and Drug Administration R Rajesh Kumar said.

Small traders and food cart owners will also have to keep and display their registration certificates with them.

'Food Safety Display Board' should also be installed in hotels, eateries, dhabas and restaurants at a clearly visible place, so that the customer can know who is responsible for the quality of food.

Action will be taken against businessmen who do not follow these instructions under Section 55 of the Food Safety Act 2006, under which a fine of up to Rs 2 lakh can be imposed on those violating the order, Kumar said.

All officials concerned should ensure that these orders are strictly followed, he said.

There will be no compromise with the quality of food served to devotees at pandals and community kitchens, he said.

"Immediate legal action will be taken against adulterators and those who tamper with the standards. The health of the pilgrims is our top priority," he added.

Special teams of food safety officers have been deployed in Haridwar, Dehradun, Tehri, Pauri and Uttarkashi districts who will regularly collect samples of milk, sweets, oil, spices and beverages, etc. from the pandals and send them to laboratories for testing. If any sample does not meet the standards, the concerned place will be closed immediately, Additional Commissioner Food Safety and Drug Administration Tajbar Singh Jaggi said.