Mysuru: The reality check on eleven Indira Canteens inaugurated by Chief Minister Siddharamaiah in city on Jan.12 presents a bleak picture as more than two weeks after the opening there are a lot of pending works to be completed.

These facts were revealed at a progress review meeting chaired by Deputy Commissioner D. Randeep at his office here this morning in the presence of MCC Commissioner G. Jagadeesha, Superintending Engineer, Executive Engineer, Assistant Commissioners of MCC and the contractor who is in charge of supplying the food.

The meeting was necessitated as the Directorate of Municipal Administration under which the MCC and Indira Canteens come asked for the progress report on 11 canteens set up in city.

The DC, addressing the media later, said that there were still some issues that had to be set right and by the time the canteens complete one month on Feb.12, he hoped that all the problems would be resolved.

“The main problem is a couple of civil works are still pending. For instance, the RO Plants which should be installed in all the canteens to provide clean drinking water is still not in place. The pipes laid to drain out sewage water are of 1.5 inch thickness whereas it should be of 2.5 inch thickness. This has resulted in the clogging of drains,” he said.

There are no security personnel at the canteen sites and CC TV cameras are not installed inside the canteens. A few plates were found missing in some canteens and hence the contractor is using paper plates, he said.

“Out of the two master kitchens, one in Kumbarakoppal and another in Alanahalli, only the former is functioning. There is no cold storage here to store vegetables, milk and other groceries. The civil work on the second kitchen is still going on and it will be completed in 15 days.”

Continuing, the DC said it was also found that the demand for dinner in some of the places has reduced and as a result the food is wasted. “I suggested to them not to waste and instead transport the food to other canteens where there is a demand. Besides, idlis are still not on the menu. There is no weighing machines kept in the canteens but there is provision that if someone has a doubt about the quantity of food served one can check it on the weighing machine. All these issues have to be sorted out,” he added.

Randeep said that he had asked the Assistant Commissioners to do random checks and give the audit report by Feb.12.

He asked the contractor to resolve all the problems including the taste of the food and warned that if he fails, the firm would be blacklisted.