Bhopal: Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) has started Deendayal Rasoi at the only waiting hall at the Putlighar bus stand, which has forced visitors to keep standing, waiting for their buses outside. At the same time, the civic body has failed to maintain even the basic hygiene facilities in its haste to start the rasoi.
As the building lacks a kitchen, the utensils are washed outside on the ground near the parked buses with stray animals roaming around.
The Putlighar bus stand is the only one after Nadra, in Old Bhopal, and nearly 100 buses run on the Bairasia road from this bus stand.
As the only waiting hall has turned into a kitchen, the visitors are unable to sit, or relax until they board a bus. Besides, the persons who visit the rasoi are forced to eat outside in a makeshift arrangement, where the buses are parked and there is filth all around. The washing of utensils out in the open in filthy surroundings is again a risk to the health of the beneficiaries.
The BMC officials, on the other hand, say they are yet to develop the rasoi and start it after formal inauguration. Till then, the rasoi will be run in the makeshit arrangement.
Hygiene a far cry!
The Deendayal Rasoi Yojana is aimed at providing meals at a cheaper rate to the poor, but, at Putlighar bus stand, the cleanliness and hygiene standards are thrown to the winds.
Smoke pollution
“BMC could have developed any other building for its rasoi as the waiting hall was used by visitors to relax before they boarded buses. The buses releasing smoke will also cause harm to the quality of food being served,” said Shahid Ali, a resident of the area.
Cheaper food for poor
“The Rasoi is yet to be formally inaugurated so that the poor may get food at a cheaper rate according to the government’s scheme,” said Vinod Shukla, BMC deputy commissioner.
