Roadside eateries mushrooming in city raises health concerns

Corpn. plans to provide designated areas to operate food kiosks at two places

Eateries such as this one in Mangaluru not only pose health risks but also inconvenience pedestrians and other road users.

Come evening, those walking on Mangaluru roads [hardly one can walk on footpaths as either they are non-existent or encroached upon] will be treated with the aroma of a variety of food, from Gobi Manchurian to Grilled Chicken.

Of late, road flanks in the city have become a haven for make-shift eateries preparing and selling a variety of vegetarian as well as non-vegetarian food items thereby posing serious questions over public health. Limited to paani poori vending push carts and Gol Goppa sellers earlier, the activity now encompasses almost all food items.

Jose Fernandes, a resident of Urva said that there is no quality check on the inputs at fast food joints and gullible customers who go to such joints owing to the cheaper price or speedy service, would be at risk of inviting health complications. Cleanliness is another area of concern as operators of these makeshift eateries do not have any proper arrangement, he said.

Washing used utensils with limited water in the open not only causes nuisance for road users but also poses a risk to customers, Mr. Fernandes said. The operators throw dirty water and leftovers on the road flanks after their business, he said.

Karunakar Shetty, a resident of Mangaladevi, said that many eateries preparing grilled chicken in the open and selling them too have mushroomed across the city.

Thick smoke coupled with pungent smell of grilled chicken has become a public nuisance, he said and added that the city corporation has not been regulating road-side eateries.

Police Commissioner Sandeep Patil told The Hindu that the police could clear roadside eateries if they are obstructing movement of vehicles and pedestrians.

Suitable action would be initiated in consultation with the city corporation, he said.

Designated places

Corporation Commissioner Mohammed Nazeer said that the corporation has identified two areas to provide designated food kiosks — Kadri and Hampanakatte. Kiosks are being planned under the Smart City project while the corporation would provide basic infrastructure to operators in these locations.

The corporation could also consider a couple of more areas where there is heavy footfall to provide similar facilities. Once such designated areas are thrown open, other unauthorised roadside eateries could be regulated, Mr. Nazeer added.