The failure of health authorities in checking the hygiene of roadside eateries in Tiruchi has raised concern among the people.
Similar to many other cities, Tiruchi is no exception to the mushrooming growth of roadside eateries. A section of unemployed youths and experienced “parotta” masters continue to set up roadside eateries in different places of the town. They invariably set up eateries at thickly populated places and busy commercial streets. Since it requires just a few foldable chairs and tables or rented carts, they find it convenient to set up eateries wherever they want.
A large number of roadside eateries are functioning in Central bus stand, Chathiram bus stand, Gandhi Market, Big Bazaar street, Singarathope, Chinthamani, Srirangam and Thiruvanaikoil. They run eateries in some of the upscale residential locations such as Thillai Nagar, K.K. Nagar, Cantonment and others as well. The number of eateries has reportedly doubled in the recent years thanks to the good patronage among the people, particularly poor, labourers, construction workers and load men. The eateries continue to spring up in and around Central Bus stand.
Besides roadside snack vendors, it is learnt that more than 300 roadside eateries and restaurants are functioning in Tiruchi. Several of them transact business only in the evening. Many of them function near clogged canals and garbage dumps. The vendors keep the cooked dishes uncovered. Moreover, dishes are prepared on pavements. The vendors and servers seem to be uncared for healthy and hygienic practices. Repeated use of oil, non-permitted colours and poor quality of water are some of the unhygienic practices followed by the eateries. The ongoing rain has compounded the issue. In spite of rain, many of them transact business in poor environment as usual.
M.A. Aleem, former Vice Principal of K.A.P.V. Medical College, Tiruchi, said that eating at unhygienic eateries and restaurants could lead to bacterial and viral infection. Cases of food poisoning had increased since the onset of monsoon season. Many of them had become sick after eating out at roadside eateries. Consumers blame the health and civic authorities for the issue. Though there are sufficient laws to ensure hygiene at roadside eateries, consumers rue that they have not been enforced properly.
Pointing out the role of civic authorities in ensuring hygienic in restaurants and road side eateries, they said that the Tiruchi Corporation has not dealt with the issue with due importance.
