Belagavi is facing a critical shortage of food safety officers, which has severely hampered regular inspections of hotels and roadside tea stalls. This lack of oversight has led to widespread allegations that vendors are using expired materials and hazardous chemicals in food preparation without fear of consequences. The issue has drawn attention from local officials and residents who are demanding stricter enforcement of food safety standards across the district.
Justice B. Veerappa, the Deputy Lokayukta, recently visited hotels at the central bus stand in Belagavi and expressed dissatisfaction with the poor hygiene conditions. He criticized the food safety officers for failing to conduct regular inspections of these establishments. Despite the growing number of hotels in the city, where many job seekers rely for meals, the absence of consistent monitoring has raised concerns about the quality and safety of the food being served.
Abhishek Divatagi, a resident of Vadgaon, highlighted the need for continuous inspections to ensure that quality food is available to the public. He noted that the number of hotels in Belagavi is increasing daily, making it essential for authorities to maintain strict oversight. The current situation, where inspections are sporadic and often perceived as mere formalities, has led to a lack of accountability among food vendors.
Belagavi district previously had 10 taluks, with two food safety officer positions approved for Belagavi city and Belagavi rural areas, and one for each of the remaining taluks. However, out of the 11 approved positions, only Belagavi rural, Chikkodi, and Gokak taluks have full-time officers. Notably, the food safety officer position for Belagavi city remains vacant. In the absence of dedicated officers, additional responsibilities have been assigned to taluk health officers, who are already burdened with implementing health department programs, making it difficult for them to monitor food safety effectively.
Previously, a senior health department officer served as the District Marked Officer for the Food Safety and Quality Authority. This responsibility has now been transferred to the Belagavi Sub-Divisional Officer. Harish H.S., the Belagavi Rural Food Safety Officer, stated that fines totaling ₹1.80 lakh were imposed over the past three months on hotels within the Belagavi Metropolitan area for poor hygiene and the use of expired materials. He added that inspections are conducted based on complaints and suspicions, with food samples collected and sent to laboratories for testing.
Residents are also demanding the creation of separate food safety officer positions in the newly formed taluks, as the district’s taluk count has increased from 10 to 15. Basavaraj Nagaral, the Belagavi Sub-Divisional Officer, informed Prajavani that he has recently taken charge and has brought the vacancy to the attention of the District Collector. He has requested additional staff and assured that the process of conducting raids on hotels will be expedited. Hasanabas Attar questioned who would be held responsible if people’s lives were endangered by consuming unsafe food, pointing out that current inspections are infrequent and lack strict enforcement.
