Today as part of its “Back to Basics” campaign to focus on consumer amenities at KTC Bus Stands, GOACAN began the second phase from Road Safety to Food Safety with the inspection by officials of the Directorate of Food and Drug Administration (DFDA) at the Margao Bus Stand.
A team of FDA Food Safety Officers led by Sr. Food Safety Officer Abel Rodrigues today inspected in the presence of GOACAN volunteers, the Kiosk’s & Gadda’s in the business of selling food items, snacks and soft drinks at the Margao KTC Bus Stand.
As GOACAN had received complaints from consumers earlier, the FDA was requested to undertake the inspection so as to address the negligence on four issues. Non-display of FSSAI license, Non-display of name, FSSAI registration number and mobile no. of suppliers on the trays displaying samosas, etc, Non-availability of DHS Sanitary Cards in the name of staff operating the kiosks, and non-availability of closed dustbins for food & packaging waste. Moreover, it was noticed that not a single bin of the major soft drink brands and the packaged drinking water brands were found installed at the bus stand thereby creating a huge burden on the collection & disposal of plastic bottles & tetra pak.
GOACAN also noted the failure of the KTCL officials of maintaining cleanliness of the bus stand as pan spitting was noticed on the walls, the bus stand has not been periodically washed, the dustbins provided were secured with string thereby allowing to fall with the wind, no drinking water has been provided for the commuters.
GOACAN has decided to write to the Chairman & Managing Director KTCL to monitor the food safety standards as prescribed by FSSAI at the Bus Stand as it used not only by local residents but also by domestic tourists proceeding to Konkan Railway and foreign tourists boarding buses to tourist spots like Agonda and Palolem.
GOACAN will also write to the Health Officer Urban Health Centre Margao to ensure the issuance of Health Cards to all staff/personnel working in these kiosks and to the Goa Waste Management Corporation (GWMC) to identify the bins required for this District level Bus stand. GOACAN has also decided to raise these issues at the forthcoming meeting of the District Consumer Protection Council if no improvements are seen by 15th March World Consumer Rights Day.
