Uttarakhand govt mandates licence display for eateries on Kanwar Yatra route, warns strict action over failure

The rule is applicable all food vendors, including small traders

Ahead of the Kanwar Yatra, the Uttarakhand government has made it mandatory that eateries on the yatra route display their licence or registration certificates prominently, failing which they will face strict punishments.

Secretary of health and commissioner of food safety and drug administration, Dr R Rajesh Kumar, said that owners of hotels, dhabas, food carts and stalls along the pilgrimage route will have to display a clean copy of their licence or registration certificate prominently so that consumers can easily see it, according to a PTI report.

The rule is applicable all food vendors, including small traders.

'Food Safety Display Board' 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 report added.

In case of failure to comply with the order, action will be taken under Section 55 of the Food Safety Act 2006, under which a fine of up to Rs 2 lakh can be imposed on those violating the order.

All officials concerned should ensure that these orders are strictly followed, he said.

There will be no compromise with the quality of food served to devotees at pandals and community kitchens, he said.

"Immediate legal action will be taken against adulterators and those who tamper with the standards. The health of the pilgrims is our top priority," he added.

The yatra is scheduled to begin on July 11.

In an interview to The Indian Express, Kumar said the instructions have been issued for better transparency as there would be more yatris this year compared to the last.

“Our mandate is that the name of the shop, the licence, and registration certificates be displayed prominently. This is just a case of transparency, as we are expecting around 7 crore Kanwar Yatris this year, as compared to 4 crore last year. In such a case, law and order are of utmost importance, and the Food Department is taking the relevant measures,” he added.

Shops that do not follow the order will also have to face closure.