MUMBAI: The Maharashtra Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) has issued notices to two mess facilities at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay, directing them to stop operations after inspectors found they were functioning without the required permissions and registrations, news agency PTI reported.According to the FDA, inspections of the mess facilities in Hostel No. 1 and 2 at the Powai campus revealed that the operators did not possess the necessary licences and registrations. They were subsequently directed to cease operations.PTI reported that inspections of the mess facilities in Hostel No. 12, 13 and 14 also revealed certain deficiencies. The caterer operating these facilities was served a notice recommending corrective measures.The action comes as part of the Maharashtra FDA’s state-wide food safety enforcement drive under newly-appointed commissioner Tukaram Mundhe.As part of the drive, the FDA has also suspended the licences of several eateries and restaurants across the state over issues ranging from poor hygiene to lack of mandatory permissions.The suspended establishments include M/s Eat Nino Pvt Ltd, Shop No. 10, Sarvoday Bhuvan, Gokhale Road, Dadar; M/s Jai Maa Kali Dhaba, SVP Nagar, MHADA, Andheri (West); M/s A J Hospitality (House of Maharashtra), Linking Road, Santacruz (West); and M/s South India Dosa Corner, Kurla (West), the FDA said.In addition, notices directing three other food business operators to stop operations were issued during the enforcement drive.The FDA also suspended the licence of Punjab Grill, a restaurant in Navi Mumbai.According to PTI, the regulator inspected 63 restaurants between August 4 and August 6. Of these, 38 establishments were issued notices directing them to improve hygiene and comply with other food safety norms, while the licences of seven restaurants were suspended.(With agency inputs)
