BMP hygiene drives: B’lore hoteliers pull up their socks

BMP hygiene drives: B’lore hoteliers pull up their socks
deccan Herald

How many waiters serving you food have their nails and hair cut clean? Does your favourite ‘Darshini’ have a decent toilet? Is it too much to expect that the cooking and serving utensils be sterilised at hotels? Even if it makes little sense to people frequenting hotels, these questions are top on the checklist of the health authorities of the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP), who have launched a massive drive against hotels working in unhygienic condition.

At least 25 hotels have been closed down over the last fortnight. More will follow, warn BMP authorities. But the crackdown on hotels, has left a bitter taste in the mouth of hoteliers.

“Unhygienic hotels deserve to be shut down and we welcome the move. But what is the BMP doing about roadside eateries, food carts and fast food and chaat vendors? Are they not posing any an health hazard?,” ask hoteliers.


Even as the BMP authorities claim that hygiene in many of the hotels is deplorable, the hoteliers argue that a majority of the hotels are maintaining good standards of hygiene.

Rules flouted

“The hotels have no safe drinking water, sterilising facility and garbage and food grains are placed in the same place. Despite the guidelines for foodhandlers, which insists on them using aprons, gloves and head caps, how many are actually following the rule?

The quality of water, lack of sanitation are other major problems. Hospitality is one whole package and it should not limit itself to a profit making activity,” assert health officials.

While, the members of Bangalore Hotels’ Association have a different take on the issue. “We have as many as 5,000 licensed hotels and the lack of trained manpower is our biggest drawback. There is stiff competition and we have to upgrade ourselves from time to tiome to survive. We cannot afford to run the business without commitment,” argued Chandrashekhar Hebbar, president of BHA.

Momentum

With the drive picking up momentum across the three zones, the hoteliers are now planning to draw authorities to the negotiation table.

“The hotel industry is going through a delicate phase. On one hand, Bangalore is now offering unmatched cuisine that are acclaimed worldwide. On the other, we are unable to match up to the standards for want of trained manpower. At least 500 darshinis are up for sale owing to growing challenges. Closing down hotels without prior notice creates a lot of problems to both workers and the owner as business suffers irrepairable damage,” added the BHA president.

People participation can solve half the problem, assert health officials. “The people should avoid unhygienic hotels, or report of any poorly managed eating joint, which wil be less taxing for the health officials, who have to man nothing less than 5,000-odd hotels. Many hotels renovate the premises and follow all the norms just before the license renewal,” said a senior official.