No end to eateries serving up unpalatable food in Mohali

In less than two weeks, the joint inspection-cum-surveillance drive initiated by the Punjab Vigilance Bureau and the food safety wing of the Health Department in Mohali district has lost its steam.

Horrific scenes of unhygienic momo-making unit in Mohali had still not faded from the public memory when another instance of playing with consumers’ health has surfaced. A Zirakpur-based eatery, ‘Sethi Dhaba’, allegedly served a bare chicken bone in a vegetarian plate to a family on the Ashtami night.

Aggrieved customers Amandeep Kaur and Kanika,  residents of VIP Road, recounted the Saturday’s incident: “When we  called up the owner, he said, it’s Ashtami today, the fasting period has  just ended. Look at their attitude. On the one hand they are playing  with the health of customers without any fear of authorities, while on  the other they have the cheek to hurt the sentiments of a paying  customer. Later, he agreed to replace the food items without  apologising. It shows that the MC and the Health Department do not check  the eateries at all.”

Bizarre incident

October 5, 2024: A customer in Dhakoli spotted two human teeth (molars) in his food ordered from Hotel Saanwara

March 16: A video showing food being prepared in unhygienic conditions, dirty utensils in Mataur village goes viral. Workers seen taking a bath right next to food items. Stale and rotten vegetables stored in unclean containers. Severed body parts of goat meat recovered in unhygienic conditions

Eateries across Mohali, Zirakpur, and Kharar continue to serve up substandard, adulterated, unhygienic eatables in utter disregard to food safety regulations with no fear of health authorities. There is now a talk of religious sentiments being hurt but the food safety wing of the Health Department and the Mohali Municipal Corporation (MC) are apparently just not bothered.

Customers have reported bizzare incidents. A man in Dhakoli had in October last year complained of spotting two human teeth (molars) in his food ordered from an upscale restaurant of Hotel Saanwara in the main market. Residents and social activists blamed the Health Department and the MC for things coming to such a pass.

“What are they doing? They sit in offices, take salaries, and go back home. Who is keeping a check on eateries and the food they are preparing? Is anyone inspecting the hygiene in their kitchen? No one,” said Ashok Tewari, a Zirakpur-based social activist, adding that the Sethi Dhaba owner was involved in hurting religious sentiment in the past also.

Mohali MLA Kulwant Singh said, “No doubt, action must be taken against errant commercial entities regularly. The Health Department and the MC need to act promptly. I am also writing to the government to take measures in implementing the Food Safety Act.”

Residents across the district questioned when was the mobile food testing van took a round of the city.

“The administration needs to show how many food safety teams are there in the district. The MC must tell how many shops have been fined in the past one year,” said Ridhima Nagra, a resident of Zirakpur.

On Friday, residents of LIC Colony, Mundi Kharar, complained that their sewer lines are getting choked frequently as a Sector 34-based eatery is using a residential accommodation for commercial activities and discarding food waste in sewer lines.

Colony resident Devinder Singh Bains said, “After our complaint, the house has been sealed and cylinders confiscated. Trucks coming here late at night had made it difficult to sleep.”