the goan I network
MARGAO
Around 16 food stalls running at the Colva Fama fair along the roadside faced the axe after the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) inspection revealed that these were operating in unhygienic conditions and without the mandatory FDA license.
While the FDA has ordered all the 16 stalls to immediately close shop, the Colva police is maintaining vigil on the stalls by deploying police personnel. The FDA inspection came after Colva Civic and Consumer Forum Secretary Judith Almeida complained to the South Goa FDA officer that the stalls operating on the roadside at the Fama festivities were operating in unhygienic conditions.
A FDA inspector Rajaram Patil, who was drafted by the FDA for the inspection, found to his shock and surprise that all the 16 stalls operating on the roadside were without the FDA license and permission. Patil later told the media that the stalls, besides operating without the mandatory FDA license, were carrying on the activity in most unhygienic conditions.
Patil along with Judith Almeida later approached the Colva police station, wherein PSI Fernandes assured the FDA inspector that they
would maintain vigil to ensure that the stalls no longer operate.
Judith told the media she was compelled to knock the doors of the FDA after a local resident complained of diarrhoea after consuming fast food in one of the stalls.
“These illegalities had been going on in the roadside stalls during the festivities every year, but the authorities had only turned a blind eye. These operated without FDA license. They use water from the locals for commercial use. There’s no sanitation around. These vendors claim they use the toilet facilities at the beach, but our information revealed that they resort to open defecation near the cemetery,” Judith told the Goan.
She demanded to know why the authorities, including the Health, Civil Supplies, Traffic and RTO turn a blind eye to the illegalities along the road. “These stalls operate in most unhygienic conditions. They use domestic LPG cylinders, but have the Civil Supplies inspectors ever checked the stalls for the irregularities?” she questioned.
Saying that RTI information has revealed that the stalls operate without the license from the panchayat, Judith demanded to know under whose patronage are these stalls operating and without the mandatory legal requirements.
