Corporation delays NOC for ‘eatery on wheels'

Love having pani poori or taking chilli chicken from roadside eatery but scared of the hygiene? Not any longer, as the Food Safety and Drug Administration Department is working on ensuring quality.The Food Wing officials of the Department have given a list of ‘dos and don'ts' to roadside eateries and the latter have expressed willingness to abide by the directions. Standing between the vendors and the Department officials is the Coimbatore Corporation, which, as the local body, has to accord no-objection certificate.Only if the civic body issues the NOC to the vendors, will they be able to register with the Department, say the officials, citing provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Regulation, 2011. The vendors have to pay an annual registration fee of Rs. 100 to the Department, which after issuing the same, will conduct periodic inspections to ensure that they abide by the rules.The officials say that around 500 persons have obtained application forms for registration but are unable to submit the same for want of the NOC.V. Karuppaiah, a street food vendor from VOC Park, says that the vendors have approached the Corporation officials for early of NOC, which will enable them to run business from designated places on road boundaries and public places. The vendors along with tea stalls, bakeries, mess, restaurants, food manufacturers have to apply for permission from the Department to run their business.Earlier, the food establishments have to approach the local body.Mr. Karuppaiah says that a conservative estimate indicates that there are around 2,000 roadside eateries in Coimbatore selling chat, fast food, tiffin, lunch, gruel, ice cream, etc. Coimbatore Corporation sources say that after discussing the issue at the Council, the civic body will talk to the city police to identify places that do not hinder traffic flow and then issue NOC. It may also look at collecting a fee, say Rs. 10, Rs. 20 or Rs. 30 depending on location, from the vendors so that more money flows in the Corporation's coffers.

Source:http://www.thehindu.com