Team Herald
PANJIM: Foreigners indulging in the illegal food business across coastal belts will now face the axe of the Directorate of Food and Drugs Administration (FDA). More so, the night clubs, beach shacks, star resorts are also on the FDA radar.
Addressing media persons on Tuesday, Minister for Health and FDA Vishwajit Rane accused foreigners having food business of peddling drugs.
“Food outlets run by the foreigners double up as drug dens. Several foreigners are into food business in Goa. I have got to know that these outlets are doubling up as drug selling points. They have become drug paradises,” he commented.
Minister informed that teams of FDA officials have been formed, who are given adequate police protection to crack down on the food outlets operated by the foreigners in the coastal areas.
“Those foreigners operating business without FDA licenses will not be spared, and their premises would be sealed, forever. We will take strict action in every possible way,” Rane said.
“The police protection would be provided to the FDA teams as during the raids, the foreigners turn aggressive. We want to avoid such kind of situations and hence the team led by a Police Sub Inspector would be accompanying the FDA officials,” he added.
Rane said that FDA which has been accused of having “not enough teeth” to act against the violators will now step up its action.
Teams of FDA would span across North and South Districts of the State, especially in the coastal belt to crack down on the businesses run by foreigners.
The minister said that besides a crack down on foreigners, FDA will continue its checking across all the segment of food industry, whether it is a five star hotel or a regular beach shack. The teams will also inspect the night clubs operating in the beach belts.
“FDA is going to ensure that hygiene and good safety standards are maintained. Nobody can take us for a ride,” he said.
