The Hindu 23.11.2009
Civic bodies to enforce new health measures
Manisha Jha
| To provide “safe” eating out options to visitors during Games |
Civic bodies to prepare a list of all the licensed restaurants or food establishments
Civic bodies plan to undertake regular inspections and issue challans
NEW DELHI: With the Commonwealth Games to he held in the Capital next year, the New Delhi Municipal Council and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi are planning new measures to provide visitors and players with “safe” eating out options during their stay in the city.
At a recent meeting between the Principal Secretary (Health), Delhi Government, and the NDMC and MCD officials who enforce the health bylaws, it was decided that both the civic bodies would prepare a list of all the licensed restaurants or food establishments running in their area in order to prepare a directory that would help guide outsiders on the certified safe places to eat and dine in the Capital.
In addition, it was also decided to direct all licensed hotels, restaurants, food establishments to clearly display their health license and the medical health certificate of its food handlers in their premises so that customers are assured of the place’s food hygiene and safety.
To ensure proper implementation of the new directions, the civic bodies plan to undertake regular inspections and issue challans and notifications to those found violating the directions.
NDMC Medical Officer of Health Dr. P. K. Sharma said: “Preparing a directory of licensed eating joints and issuing directions mandating the public display of necessary documents is a step in that direction only. We plan to hand over the compiled list of eateries in our area within the next 15 days so that the directory can be prepared.”
According to Dr. Sharma, there are about 600 such food establishments operating in the NDMC area alone and the civic agency issues new health licenses for one year and renews them for three years subject to the clearance of the medical examination of the food handlers. “There are various parameters for issuing a valid health license to the food establishments and these include the overall sanitary and hygienic conditions of the joint, its location, storage conditions and state of its water and sewer connections among other things,” he added.
