What steps taken regarding incidents of food poisoning in hotels: Kerala HC asks state govt
Kochi(PTI): The Kerala High Court on Thursday asked the state government what steps have been taken in connection with the incidents of food poisoning in the state.
A bench of Justices Anil K Narendran and P G Ajithkumar also asked whether the licensees were being prosecuted. "What action is the government taking with regard to food poisoning in various hotels? Are these licensees being prosecuted?" the bench asked during the hearing of a Sabarimala related matter.
In the wake of food poisoning incidents being reported in the state, Kerala Health Minister Veena George on Tuesday had ordered 'widespread' inspections across all 14 districts and stringent action against outlets operating without licence or serving adulterated and unhygienic meals.
Subsequently, on Wednesday, the state Health Department in a release had said that the Food Safety Department inspected 547 eateries across the state and operations of 48 among them were suspended for operating in unsanitary conditions or without licences.
Besides that notices were issued to 142 eateries and the inspections will continue, the release had said.
It had also said that from July to December last year, nearly half a lakh inspections were carried out, notices were issued to 9,248 eateries, 149 were closed down and fines to the tune of Rs 97.60 lakh were levied.
Moreover, around 82,406 eateries were registered and 18,037 were licensed in the last six months, the release had said. In Pathanamthitta, over 100 people suffered from suspected food poisoning on January 1 after allegedly taking meals during a baptism function in a church near Keezhvaipur area of the district, police had said.
In Kottayam, around 21 people fell ill after allegedly consuming food from an eatery there in December last year, police had also said.
Meanwhile, the death of a nurse in Kottayam is yet to be classified as due to food poisoning as a medical report confirming that has not been received, police said. The victim's family has alleged that the nurse died after eating food from the same eatery from where meals had allegedly caused food poisoning among 21 persons who ate from there.
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Rupee falls 32 paise to all-time low of 95.20 against US dollar
Mumbai, Apr 30 (PTI): The rupee depreciated 32 paise to an all-time low of 95.20 against the US dollar in early trade on Thursday, weighed down by elevated Brent crude oil prices, hovering around USD 122 per barrel, and strong American currency.
Forex traders said the USD/INR pair may see further downside, as rising crude oil prices are likely to sharply impact India's import costs, while concerns over potential wider conflict in West Asia are fuelling investor anxiety.
Meanwhile, the US dollar added to gains after the US FED Reserve kept rates unchanged. Safe-haven demand was also boosted by another diplomatic setback between Washington and Tehran.
At the interbank foreign exchange market, the rupee opened at 95.01 against the US dollar, then lost some ground and touched an all-time low of 95.20 against the US dollar in initial trade, registering a fall of 32 paise over its previous close.
On Wednesday, the rupee depreciated 20 paise to close at an all-time low of 94.88 against the US dollar.
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"The main effect on the rupee has been from the rising oil prices, which touched USD 120 per barrel and looked headed for further upside as the US continues with its blockade of Iranian ports, while Iran does not allow any ship/tanker to pass through the Strait of Hormuz," said Anil Kumar Bhansali, Head of Treasury and Executive Director Finrex Treasury Advisors LLP.
Meanwhile, the dollar index, which gauges the greenback's strength against a basket of six currencies, was trading 0.01 per cent higher at 98.96.
Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, was trading higher by 3.16 per cent at USD 121.76 per barrel in futures trade.
On the domestic equity market front, Sensex tumbled 821.79 points to 76,674.57 in early trade, while the Nifty dived 287.3 points to 23,890.35.
Foreign Institutional Investors offloaded equities worth Rs 2,468.42 crore on Wednesday, according to exchange data.
"FPIs continue with their sale of Indian Equities and debt (the yield touched 7 per cent on Wednesday) and are also dollar buyers consistently," Bhansali added.
