Indira Canteens attract garbage, repulse customers

Would you eat near a garbage dump? That is the question patrons of some Indira Canteens, which provide food at highly subsidised rates, are asking.

Customers complain that hygiene at several Indira Canteens in Bengaluru have been compromised as garbage is being indiscriminately dumped near many of these eateries. 

A reality check by The Hindu revealed that at least seven canteens — in Chalavadipalya – Chamarajpet, Tannery Road – Manishwar Nagar, Shivajinagar, S.P. Road, Austin Town, Ejipura, Palace Guttahalli, and Sampige Road, which are located in high-density and high-footfall areas — are close to garbage black spots, or, in some cases, garbage transfer stations, rendering the surroundings unhygienic. Many canteens have also been accused of poor waste management. 

Noorulla, a small business-owner from Tannery Road whose shop is located opposite an Indira Canteen, shared his concerns over poor hygiene. “I live far from my shop and have to leave early every morning. So, bringing food from home isn’t feasible. I hoped the Indira Canteen would help, but with the waste piling up, I just can’t bring myself to have lunch there,” he said. 

Jennifer, a local resident, remarked, 
“The unbearable smell from the garbage near the Indira Canteen makes it difficult for us to stay at home. I occasionally relied on the canteen as I am a working mother, but now with mosquitoes and filth around, it’s become highly uncomfortable to eat there.”

Junaid Ahmed, a resident of Shivajinagar, criticised the negligence of civic authorities.
“The authorities have been irresponsibly dumping waste in this residential area. Even after the canteen was opened, there has been no improvement. It’s disgraceful that food is being served in such conditions.”

Siriamma, a vegetable vendor at K. R. Market, expressed frustration over the unhygienic environment.
“There’s an Indira Canteen and a government-installed water counter nearby. I work late hours and cannot carry food as it gets spoiled. The canteen was my only hope, but it’s worse than spoiled food because it’s served in such unhygienic conditions that you don’t feel like eating there.”

Responding to these concerns, Suralkar Vikas Kishor, Special Commissioner (Health), Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), said that each zone had a different contractor to maintain Indira Canteens. “The main challenge lies in ground-level execution. We will ensure that necessary steps, including surprise inspections, are taken to improve hygiene around the canteens,” he said.