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The Hindu
17-05-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Railway inquiry committee inspects closed-down catering firm in Kochi
A three-member inquiry committee constituted by the Southern Railway on Saturday inspected a catering firm at Elamkulam, Kochi, Kerala, that served food on trains operated by the Southern Railway and was sealed by the health wing of the Kochi Corporation following the seizure of large quantities of stale food and the discovery of the unhygienic state of its kitchen. The high-level committee comprising the Divisional Commercial Manager, Thiruvananthapuram; the Health Officer, Thiruvananthapuram; and the Area Manager of the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) was constituted on Wednesday when the firm was sealed. The committee's visit for evidence collection was kept under wraps. The firm, Brandavan Food Products, has a presence across the country and serves food on trains of various zonal railways directly and also on trains catered to by IRCTC. The unit in Kochi reportedly served food directly for five sets of trains under the Southern Railway and another three sets of trains through the IRCTC. The committee, it is learnt, will not just restrict itself to the instant case in Kochi but will look at the larger issues related to the food supply on trains and make recommendations. At its preliminary meeting, the committee had decided to slap a fine of ₹1 lakh on the unit and asked the IRCTC to take stern action. The committee will look into the quality of food being served on trains and recommend corrective measures, wherever necessary, sources said. The catering unit will have to comply with all requirements before resuming operations, according to sources. 'Initially, they will have to secure a no-objection certificate from the Pollution Control Board and then apply for licences from the Corporation and the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). The unit will have to ensure necessary waste disposal and management facilities, clean drinking water and health cards for its kitchen workers. The unit didn't have the Corporation licence. It had a registration from the FSSAI, but its scale of operation warranted a licence from the authority,' said Corporation sources. The firm has been under the Corporation Health wing's scanner for a few months following complaints from people and has been served multiple notices. The health wing on Thursday submitted a report to the Corporation Secretary on the action taken against the unit. The action was taken under the Kerala Municipality Act Section 447 (licensing for the use of places within the municipal area for various purposes) and 340A (prohibited waste disposal). The stale food seized from the unit was sent to Brahmapuram for disposal.
The Hindu
16-05-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Closure of IRCTC contractor's kitchen: railway panel to look into larger issues
A three-member inquiry committee constituted by the Southern Railway to probe into the closure of a kitchen run by a catering contractor of the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) at Elamkulam here will not limit the investigation to the present case, but will look at the larger issues and make recommendations. A high-level committee comprising Divisional Commercial Manager, Thiruvananthapuram; Health Officer, Thiruvananthapuram; and Area Manager, IRCTC; was constituted on the day the Health wing of the Kochi Corporation sealed the catering unit, Brindavan Food Products, following the seizure of large quantities of stale food and discovering the unhygienic state of its kitchen. The decision to slap a fine of ₹1 lakh on the unit was taken at the preliminary meeting of the committee, which also asked the IRCTC to take stern action. The committee will look into the quality of food being served on trains and recommend corrective measures, wherever necessary, sources said. Inspection on Saturday The Kochi city Corporation has been informed of the proposed visit of the committee to inspect the catering unit on Saturday. The catering unit will have to comply with all requirements before resuming operations, according to sources. 'Initially, they will have to secure a no objection certificate from the Pollution Control Board and then apply for licences from the Corporation and the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). The unit will have to ensure necessary waste disposal and management facilities, clean drinking water and health cards for its kitchen workers. The unit didn't have the Corporation licence. It had a registration from the FSSAI, but its scale of operation warranted a licence from the authority,' said Corporation sources. Multiple notices The firm has been under the Corporation Health wing's scanner for a few months following complaints from people and has been served multiple notices. The Health wing on Thursday submitted a report to the Corporation Secretary on the action taken against the unit. The action was taken under the Kerala Municipality Act Section 447 (licensing for the use of places within the municipal area for various purposes) and 340A (prohibited waste disposal). The stale food seized from the unit was sent to Brahmapuram for disposal.
The Hindu
15-05-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Closure of catering unit in Kochi: no worker in kitchen had health cards
None of the workers engaged in the kitchen of the catering unit at Elamkulam, which was closed down by the health wing of the Kochi Corporation on Wednesday (May 14, 2025) following the seizure of stale food and unhygienic condition of the kitchen had health cards, health wing officials said. The health wing had submitted a report on action taken to the Kochi Corporation secretary. The action was taken under the Kerala Municipality Act Section 447 (licensing for the use of places within the municipal area for various purposes) and 340A (prohibited waste disposal). The stale food seized from the unit was sent to Brahmapuram for disposal. 'Two authorised persons visited us and blamed the manager for not running the catering unit in a responsible manner. But that was hardly an excuse. For the catering unit to resume operations, it will have to secure permission from the Pollution Control Board, set up a sewage treatment plant, and obtain the Corporation's licence and health cards for its workers,' said sources in the health wing. The unit run by the catering contractor of the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) had been serving food on various trains, including Vande Bharat. Following the incident, the Southern Railway slapped a fine of ₹1 lakh on the catering firm and directed the IRCTC to take stringent action. Besides, a high-level committee was also constituted to conduct an inquiry. The firm has been under the health wing's scanner for a few months following public complaints and had been served multiple notices before. The latest action followed a complaint by residents of a colony in the vicinity about the catering unit. They had complained of an unbearably bad odour from a godown and the workers' quarters in the firm's neighbourhood on Tuesday (May 13, 2025) night. Subsequently, nearly 50 kilograms of stale chicken, seemingly months old, were reportedly removed from the godown in the presence of Elamkulam division councillor Antony Painumthara, The raid followed the next morning. Reportedly, no authorised person from the catering unit was around during the raid to receive the mahazar or other relevant documents. The firm had been served notices in the past for operating without the requisite licence and wastewater treatment plant, besides being slapped with a fine of ₹10,000 for dumping waste into the canal.
Time of India
02-05-2025
- Time of India
Kochi city corporation suspends official arrested for accepting bribe
Kochi: The city corporation has suspended Vyttila zonal office building inspector Swapna E , who was recently arrested for accepting bribe . Mayor M Anilkumar informed that the official was suspended pending investigation under Section 15(6) of the Kerala Municipality Act and Rule 8 of the Kerala Municipality Officers' Control and Rules, 2011. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The mayor stated that it was found that a very serious offence was committed and the local body has decided to report to the LSGD principal director to take strict disciplinary action under the Kerala Service (Classification and Control) Rules, 1960. Swapna was arrested by VACB officials while receiving a bribe of Rs 15,000 from a builder who applied to get door numbers issued to his new apartments.
The Hindu
02-05-2025
- The Hindu
Kochi Corporation suspends official over bribery charges
The Kochi Corporation suspended Swapna A., building inspector at its Vyttila zonal office, on Friday (May 2, 2025) after the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) arrested her on bribery charges. She was suspended pending inquiry as per the provisions of the Kerala Municipality Act, 1994, said a communication issued by Mayor M. Anilkumar on Friday. 'The disciplinary action taken against her will be reported to the Principal Director, Department of Local Self-Government, for initiating further action as per the Kerala Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1960,' it said. She was arrested by VACB officials at Ponnurunni on Wednesday (April 30, 2025) for allegedly seeking ₹15,000 from a builder to process an application for a building number for apartments in a complex. VACB personnel reportedly recovered ₹45,000 from her bag and purse, and she had arrived in her vehicle, allegedly to collect the bribe. On Friday, vigilance sleuths inspected the zonal office at Vyttila as part of the probe into allegations of corruption involving officials. They reportedly examined her cabin and sought documents related to the applications she had considered for the allotment of building numbers. Inspections were also carried out at her apartment on Kaniampuzha Road and her house at Mannuthy, Thrissur, amid suspicions that she had amassed wealth beyond her lawful sources of income. She was placed under VACB surveillance following complaints that she was allegedly demanding a bribe for the allotment of building numbers.
