In its ongoing effort of keeping a check around hotels and eateries selling low quality food, the department of health in Kochi has issued orders to close down 38 hotels in the district. After conducting a separate raid, the Kochi corporation issued notice to close down two hotels in the city.
The health department inspected 516 hotels in the district and issued notices to 245 food outlets.
Meanwhile,the Kochi corporation conducted raids in 16 food outlets in the city on Thursday. The local body issued orders to close down two hotels and issued notices to six eateries. Zam Zam hotel on Cloth Bazar Road and a Badam shake centre on Old Railway Station Road were asked to pull down shutters. Mayor Tony Chammany led the raid along with officials from the health squad. Meanwhile, the health department ordered to close down 11 hotels and eateries in Karukutti, eight at Malippuram, three hotels each at Mukkannoor, Thuravoor, Pambakuda and one each at Keecheri, Kumbalangi, Malayidamthuruthu, Netoor, Pallarimangalam, Pandipilli, Varapuzha and Vengoor, said a report in TOI. The officials said most food outlets lack proper waste treatment facilities. Stale chicken, porotta, idly, idiyappam, puri, fish curry, vegetable curry, boiled eggs stored in freezers, and fungus-infected pickle were seized from these hotels and destroyed. The district medical officer said they would intensify raids in the coming days and initiate strict action against hotels which fail to maintain hygienic conditions. At Karukutti, DD Park, Pallavi, Richus, Runs, Kitchen Gate, Cristal Kitchen, Navya Bakery, Green Bakers, St Paul Fish Stall, Jose Antony Fish Stall and St Paul Chicken Centre were closed. At Mukkanoor, Mata Hotel and restaurant, Reshma Hotel and Akshaya Hotel were ordered to shut down. At Thuravoor, Amma Hotel, Aswathy Hotel and Aneesh Hotel were closed. Neha in Udayamperoor, M J Hotel, Kumbalangi and Bharat Hotel in Pookkatupadi were also closed.
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