Only 4 food inspectors in Greater Hyderabad

Hyderabad: The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) seems to have neglected the health of the citizens of the city, as they have only four food inspectors as opposed to a required strength of 30.

There are around 30 circles in the city and one food inspector should be appointed for each circle to keep tab on quality of food provided by food joints, roadside pushcarts, food vendors and hotels, according to the officials of the GHMC.

For the huge city population and more number of food joints, roadside pushcart vendors and hotels, the GHMC has only four food inspectors, including two Gazette food inspectors, one food inspector and an assistant food inspector in Food Safety Department to look after the quality of the food provided at the hotels and food joints.

There were seven to eight food inspectors when it was Municipal Corporation of Hyderabad (MCH) and then the staff has been reduced every year, and now it has reached four, said an official at GHMC.

The responsibility of the food inspectors is to ensure that all registered restaurants and eateries abide by the acceptable standards of health and hygiene. Some 26 food inspector posts are lying vacant since a few years and either state government or civic body is showing interest to fill up the vacancies that play a vital role in maintaining the health of the common man.

Even though the 26 posts are sanctioned a few years ago, the recruitment has not been done till date, as it is pending at the government level, said a GHMC official. This shows that the Food Safety Department has been neglected in the GHMC.

The food inspectors at Food Safety Department conduct raids on regular basis on hotels and restaurants to check the food quality and cleanliness maintaining in the kitchens of the hotels along with medical department staff, due to lack of adequate food inspectors in GHMC.

Speaking to the Hans India, Sudarshan Reddy, a food inspector said, "We are trying to fill the vacant posts, and we have written a letter requesting the government to fill the vacancies in the Food Safety Department. We are waiting for the reply from the government." It is very difficult to ensure hygiene and safety in all hotels across the city with less staff, the official admits.