Bengaluru: There are discrepancies galore at the Indira Canteens. There are many complaints about Congress government’s pet project. Firstly, the Canteen serves poor regular quality of food and secondly, there is a discrepancy in the number of plates served to customers and the number of plates claimed to be served by the contractors.
Last year, Leader of Opposition in BBMP Mr Padmanabha Reddy had revealed that the contractors had inflated the number of plates consumed just to claim more money for fewer meals served in the canteen.
Except for some of the Indira Canteens at prime locations, not all canteens report great footfalls.
Take for instance, the Indira Canteens at Sunkenahalli, Kempegowda Nagar are just located next to the slum and the canteen hardly sees any footfalls. However, some canteens in areas like K R Market, Sampangiramangar and others have high footfalls.
Indira Canteens serve breakfast at `5 while lunch and dinner is served for `10. While the total price of 3 meals is
` 25, the government provides a subsidy of ` 32 for breakfast, lunch and dinner all put together. As per the statistics available till February, the canteen has served 11.1 crore plates since its inception in 2017 August.
A BBMP official who did not wish to be named said there is a need to introduce a new software to track the number of tokens issued at the counter and also provide updates on the number of meals served every single day.
BBMP Mayor Gangambike who accepted that there is a discrepancy in the numbers claimed by the contractors said discussions are on to plug the leakage.
“I have also received complaints relating to the discrepancy in the food served and the total bill claimed by the contractors. We have installed CCTV cameras and there are marshals to monitor the quality, quantity and hygiene of the canteens” she said and added that she has been keen on putting up a system to prevent contractors from claiming more money by inflating the number of plates served.
“The tender of the present contractors ended on August 16. We have not taken any decision on the new tenders. I have invited suggestions from corporators, MLAs, officials and the general public to plug leakages,” Ms Gangambike said.
