What’s on the menu? Kannada, maybe

What’s on the menu? Kannada, maybe


Express News Service First Published : 31 Jul 2009 08:40:26 AM ISTLast Updated : 31 Jul 2009 08:50:53 AM IST
BANGALORE: Whether it be the Punjabi Channa Batura or the Keralite Appams, or the Bengali Murighanto, all of this will speak in Kannada from now on. At least from the menu cards at eating joints. Because that is what the Kannada Development Authority (KDA) is proposing to do. It has asked Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) to direct all the hotels and other eateries that come under their jurisdiction to make Kannada compulsory on sign boards, name boards and menu cards too. Or else face the music.
According to the Karnataka Shops and Commercial Establishment Act 1961, all sign boards and name boards should be in Kannada, failing which the establishments attract a penalty amount upto Rs 10,000. So far, in Bangalore more than 450 cases have been registered for violating the act.
Now, KDA is insisting that Kannada be used in menu cards too.
KDA Chairman Mukya Mantri Chandru said that he did not have any hatred towards other languages.
But there should be Kannada too along with any other languages of their choice, he said. Chandru was of the opinion that even star hotels need to follow this.
Chandru said that the Authority does not have direct command over the implementation. “We will wait for a couple of weeks. If we find that it is not properly implemented by BBMP, we will write to the government,” he added.
BBMP officials say that they are conducting special drives. Govindraj, BBMP, Joint Commissioner has conducted several meetings with the zonal-level officials. “We have personally told many hotel owners to obey the order,” an official said. Speaking to the Express, Vasudeva Adiga, president to Bangalore Hotels assoication said that there are around 2,500 darshinis in Bangalore and more than 1,000 medium and big restaurants. “We will obey the rule. But we need at least six months to implement,” he said.
According to Adiga, cost of one menu card varries from Rs 400 to Rs 2,000, depending on the standard of the hotel. “Atleast 10 to 20 menu cards are needed in any hotel. But we will obey,” he added.