By News18
Ahead of the Kanwar Yatra, the Uttarakhand government has mandated for all the eateries and food businesses along the yatra route to prominently display their food licences or registration certificates. The Chief Minister鈥檚 Office said that shops without this display would be shut down.
CM Pushkar Singh Dhami announced that the move was to enforce a 鈥渟tringent and dedicated action plan to ensure that devotees receive hygienic and safe food鈥.
Owners of hotels, dhabas, food carts and stalls along the pilgrimage route will have to display a clean copy of their license or registration certificate prominently so that consumers can easily see it, Health Secretary and Commissioner Food Safety and Drug Administration R Rajesh Kumar said.
鈥楩ood Safety Display Board鈥 should also be installed in hotels, eateries, dhabas and restaurants at a clearly visible place, so that the customer can know who is responsible for the quality of food.
The certificates include the name, photo and other details of the holder.
An official communication added, 鈥淯ttarakhand govt urges all religious institutions and vendors to respect devotees鈥 faith by serving safe, pure and quality food. The aim is to balance faith and health on this sacred journey.鈥
The yatra is scheduled to start on July 11.
In 2024 also, after the Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand governments had mandated that vendors must display their nameplates outside their shops, however, the Supreme Court intervened and stayed the move. The apex court noted that there was no government order empowering the police to give directions in this case. In its order, the court observed that such directions could be issued under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 or the Street Vendors Act, 2014, to ensure 鈥渟hudh shakahari鈥 (strictly vegetarian) food is served to the Kanwar Yatris.
Health Secretary Dr R Rajesh Kumar told the media that the licence needs to be exhibited prominently. 鈥淭he photograph and the application with which the vendor applied for the licence is to be pasted outside. There should be no confusion over the issue. We have not asked eatery owners to display their names,鈥 he said as quoted by the The Indian Express.
The health department has formed a strict action plan to ensure safe and pure food through extensive monitoring. Kumar said all food businesses along the route have been given essential instructions that must be followed. 鈥淭here will be no compromise on food quality at tents, food centres and other locations during the yatra. Immediate legal action will be taken against those involved in adulteration or standard violations. Pilgrims鈥 health is our top priority,鈥 he said.
Special teams of food safety officers have been deployed in Haridwar, Dehradun, Tehri, Pauri and Uttarkashi districts who will regularly collect samples of milk, sweets, oil, spices and beverages, etc. from the pandals and send them to laboratories for testing. If any sample does not meet the standards, the concerned place will be closed immediately, Additional Commissioner Food Safety and Drug Administration Tajbar Singh Jaggi said.
(With inputs from agencies)