Overview

The Uttarakhand government has mandated that eateries along the Kanwar Yatra route prominently display their food licenses or registration certificates at their establishments. Owners of hotels, dhabas, carts, and stalls on the pilgrimage route must exhibit a clean copy of their license or registration certificate in a visible spot so that consumers can easily verify it, said Health Secretary and Commissioner of Food Safety and Drug Administration R. Rajesh Kumar.

Small traders and cart stall owners must also carry and display their registration certificates at all times. Additionally, all hotels, eateries, dhabas, and restaurants must install a ‘Food Safety Display Board’ in a visible location to inform customers about who is responsible for the quality of food.

Registration Certificates Required for Small Traders and Stall Owners

Officials will take action against business owners who fail to comply with these orders under Section 55 of the Food Safety Act 2006, which allows for fines up to ₹2 lakh, the official added. Mr. Kumar instructed all relevant officials to strictly enforce these rules without compromise. He emphasised that the Uttarakhand government will not tolerate any compromise in food quality served to devotees at pandals, community kitchens, or bhandaras along the Kanwar Yatra route.

Zero Tolerance for Food Adulteration 

He warned that authorities will take immediate legal action against anyone caught adulterating food or tampering with quality standards, stressing that pilgrims’ health remains the top priority. Special teams of food safety officers patrol Haridwar, Dehradun, Tehri, Pauri, and Uttarkashi districts regularly, collecting samples of milk, sweets, oil, spices, and beverages from pandals. They send these samples to laboratories for testing. Additional Commissioner of Food Safety and Drug Administration Tajbar Singh Jaggi said officials will shut down any location immediately if the samples fail to meet standards.

Source: The Hindu