TEAM HERALD
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PONDA: Suspicions that water from a nearby toilet was used in the preparation of eatables prompted the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) to order a canteen to stop business at the new KTC bus stand at Ponda on Tuesday.
During an inspection, FDA officials claimed that the canteen did not have a water tap connection and suspected that water required to prepare eatables and wash utensils was brought from a nearby pay-toilet. FDA officials claimed that there was also an issue of hygiene at the canteen.
“We have directed the canteen owner to stop the business and asked him to report to FDA head office at Panjim. The canteen operator claims he has necessary permissions and has been asked to produce the documents. However there is no justification on source of water used at the canteen,” said a FDA official.
According to information, the canteen at the new KTC bus stand prepared and served eatables like batawadas, bhajiyas, tea, etc.
According to FDA officials, action was taken based on a complaint that there was poor hygiene at the canteen.
During an inspection, FDA officials came across another stall at the KTC bus stand which was also found allegedly using water from the toilet to prepare lime-juice.
Sources said water from the toilet was used in the machine in which lime-juice was made. FDA officials have also ordered the stall owner to stop using the juice-maker.
Incidentally, during the inspection, FDA officials found six cylinders at the canteen, of which four were domestic. Though FDA claimed that information regarding use of domestic cylinders was passed on to the Ponda Civil Supplies Department for necessary action, Civil Supplies Department Ponda denied having received any such information.
FDA officials recently raided four places in Ponda where samosas were being prepared in unhygienic conditions. During the raid, FDA officials seized about 450 samosas and ordered the operations to shut down.
