SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, March 12: In preparation for the Holi festival, the Deoghar district administration launched a crackdown on hotels and restaurants in Baba Dham, booking three establishments for violating the Food Safety and Standards Act (FSSA).
On the directive of Deputy Commissioner (DC) Vishal Sagar, a team led by District Food Safety Officer (DFSO) conducted inspections at several high-end hotels and restaurants, including Hotel Maa Laxmi Palace, Hotel Baidyanath, Hotel Vioray, and Hotel Vaishnavi and Resort.
Ensuring Hygiene for Visiting Devotees
DC Vishal Sagar stated that with a large number of devotees from Jharkhand and other states visiting Baba Dham during Holi, strict inspections were necessary to ensure food safety and hygiene standards in hotels and restaurants.
The DFSO team also collected samples of suspected food items for testing at the State Lab in Namkum, Ranchi.
Also Read- Jharkhand CM orders strict law and order measures ahead of festivals
Hotels Penalized for Violations
During the inspection, Hotel Vioray was fined ₹2,000 after expired garlic bread was found in its kitchen. The hotel was instructed to immediately discard the expired product.
At Hotel Maa Laxmi Palace, officials discovered the absence of an FSSA license and a valid water testing report. The hotel had only a registration and lacked a proper license. Authorities issued a strict warning and directed the management to obtain an FSSA license and submit a water testing report within a week.
Unbranded Food Products Seized
At Hotel Vaishnavi and Resort, the inspection team found unbranded food packets, which were ordered to be returned to ensure consumer safety. Additionally, paneer samples were collected from the hotel for quality testing.
The Deoghar administration has vowed to continue these inspections to ensure food quality and hygiene across all hotels and restaurants, particularly during the festive season.
