In a surprise check, Corporation officials on Wednesday had sealed 32 eateries at Ampa Skywalk mall citing the action was because the eateries lacked trade licences and did not conform to hygiene norms.
When corporation officials were contacted, they did not cite any violation of norms of the health department. “It was primarily for licenses, but the checks had to be conducted by the Health department and on noticing any public health violations, we also included that they violated hygiene norms,” a senior corporation officials said to TNM, adding that the mall did not have fire safety clearance either. Asked how this was sudden check was carried out, officials said that apart from license violations, they had received complaints from consumers on the quality of food. But food safety officers in the Corporation, who possess the jurisdiction to check restaurants for violation of food safety norms, said they were not called on in this regard.
The eateries, which have been in business at the Nelson Manickam Road mall for more than five years, indeed didn't have licences but according to the Times of India, sources said the real reason was because a guard at the mall demanded parking fee from corporation deputy commissioner (health) R Kannan.
When Kannan refused to pay, the guard said he was not authorised to allow free parking and insisted that he pay up. An angry Kannan warned the guards and left. On Monday, corporation health department staff conducted an inspection and sealed the eateries on Tuesday.
The mall even terminated a guard and tendered an apology to Kannan. Kannan told the Times of India that a guard had stopped him, but denied that this had anything to do with the checks. He said he had visited the mall for a voter awareness program and received complaints on the food.
Six of the eateries will be opened in a week's time.