Officials of the Mangalore City Corporation (MCC) raided several hostels and paying guest accommodations in the city on Monday. While some were found running without a licence, those with licence were described by officials to be in a “pathetic” state.
Environmental engineers and health officers of the corporation raided the hostel of Expert College, R.K. Residency Hostel, Besant College Women’s Hostel, all in Kodialbail, and A2Z PG centre at Bejai.
The raids came after several councillors had raised the issue of unhygienic hostels which increased the chances of malaria and dengue outbreak, said Manjunath R. Shetty, MCC Engineer.
Both Expert College hostel and A2Z PG ran their hostels and canteens without any licence, he added. “The rooms in Expert College hostel were overcrowded. Four students stayed in each room, and the hostel accommodated around 112 students. A student here had died recently due to malaria,” said Mr. Shetty. He added that the car parking area had been converted into a kitchen and a storage area. “As this restricts the emergency fire exit, it is a violation of fire safety rules,” he said. While the Besant College hostel was closed, officials found that the “unhygienic” canteen had stagnant water which increased mosquito breeding.
Sparrows were found feasting on the food left in the open in the R.K. Residency canteen. Mr. Shetty called the conditions “pathetic”, with food being dumped in the open. “Places like these have a residential licence and run hostels instead,” said Mr. Shetty.
