Food Safety officials in Vadakara working in decrepit building

The dilapidated office building of the Food Safety Officer in Vadakara. 

Shaky building may collapse any time, fear staff

The circle office of the Food Safety Department in Vadakara, housed in a 30-year-old dilapidated building of the Irrigation Department, is struggling to cope with its increasing work of enforcement and administration, say officials.

The administrative affairss of Vadakara, Kuttiyadi and Nadapuram circles of the department are handled in this shaky building, where five staff members are compelled to work under the situation. Those who visit the office from the Vadakara, Kuttiyadi and Nadapuram regions with various applications too are put to difficulties owing to the poor facilities at the circle office.

An officer attached to the circle office said the building was unfit now to carry out the operations of the department and it might collapse any time. Even renovation would not help to solve the crisis now, he said.

The electrical fittings, pipes, doors and windows are all in a damaged condition. The toilet block is in a poor shape, compelling the staff to look for other facilities. No renovation work has been carried out in the building for over 10 years.

The employees said they were in distress during the rainy season as the roof tiles had been damaged in several areas and rain water leaked in . The wooden ceilings too have been damaged owing to lack of maintenance.