------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Documented by Goa Desc Resource Centre Ph:2252660 Website: www.goadesc.org Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Press Clippings on the web: http://www.goadesc.org/mem/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------- Hotel clean-up drive lacks punch in Mapusa ----------------------------------------------------- The operation clean-up drive against hotels in Mapusa has either been tardy or most of the hotels pass the acid test in the city.This comes at a time when authorities in most of the towns in the State have either served notices to some erring hotels or ordered shutdown of others, for flouting hygiene or sanitation rules.
None of the hotels in Mapusa, inspected by the core group so far, have been served notices, least of all asked to shut down. "The core group observed a few discrepancies but, none of them were of serious nature necessitating closure," Mapusa Municipal Council Chief Officer Deepak Bhandekar said.
Urban Health Centre incharge Dr Kamat told Herald that those hotels which needed minor adjustments have orally been instructed to do so.
She further disclosed that the hoteliers have been informed that the core group would revisit them, to verify if the necessary instructions were carried out.
But sources in the know have another story to tell. Authorities in Mapusa have taken a soft approach on the issue, on specific instructions of the city fathers.
Instead of taking a proactive action on the clean-up operation, a message was passed on to all the hotels and eateries in Mapusa to get their act together.
One of the fast-food joint near the Alankar theatre disclosed that he was asked by some municipality staff to carry on his trade, albeit discreetly. The instruction was plain and simple: "Don't display your tandoori in the open".
The Chief Officer stated that the core group had noticed some, "not so serious" discrepancies at the Mapusa police station canteen. "They have been informed to act on the same," he said.
An inspection was carried out at Asilo hospital canteen and Hotel Ashok in the heart of Mapusa city on Thursday, Dr Kamat disclosed.
"No serious violations were noticed at either of these places. But they were asked to follow certain sanitary provisions," she said.
According to the chief officer all the mobile food carts have been asked to close down upto September 8. This date may be extended further as the government was planning to formulate guidelines for food carts for maintenance of minimum hygiene, he added.
Meanwhile, it is business as usual at the fast food joints and the gaddas near the Alankar theatre and elsewhere in the city.
The only noticeable difference near the Alankar theatre was the absence of chairs and tables which were flagrantly placed on the roads, infront of their stalls, by these traders.
And this too may be a short term reprieve, as the traders have been told that this instructions are to be followed till September 8.
The Ganesh festival in the week gone by may have come as a blessing in disguise to the hoteliers as most of them remain closed during the celebrations.
The chief officer and the health officer too were unanimous in their say, that the core group couldn't carry on their work of visiting hotels as most of these remain closed on account of the festival. ----------------------------------- HERALD 8/9/03 page 3 ----------------------------
======================================= GOA DESC RESOURCE CENTRE Documentation + Education + Solidarity 11 Liberty Apts., Feira Alta, Mapusa, Goa 403 507 Tel: 2252660 mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] website: www.goadesc.org ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Working On Issues Of Development & Democracy =======================================
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