Pune: Savitribai Phule Pune University cancelled the contract of the private operator running the girls’ hostel mess on Thursday, after Food and Drug Administration (FDA) suspended the contractor’s licence for 14 days following an inspection that found cockroaches and other unhygienic conditions on the premises.FDA action followed an inspection on Tuesday and a hearing on Thursday over violations of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. While Ajinkya Umap, the food safety officer, had said the suspension was temporary for 14 days, within which the contractor can rectify the flaws and FDA after re-inspection can revoke the suspension, Prafulla Pawar, registrar of the university, said the university decided to cancel the contract altogether after FDA action.“We have directed the students to have their meals at the main refectory until further notice, following the closure of their mess. We were anyway scheduled to issue tender notices tomorrow for several shops that have remained closed for some time, and the tender for this mess will also be floated. We have also asked the contractor to refund the students’ fees if they have been collected in advance,” said Pawar.
