Thiruvananthapuram: The iconic Indian Coffee House (ICH) at Spencer Junction that was closed down on October 20 by the commissionerate of food safety (CFS) continues to remain shut even as the authorities indicate that tougher action could follow. The CFS normally allows companies to reopen outlets after giving time for improvement but the coffee house, established here in the 1960s, was not given the permission despite undertaking a facelift that cost it over Rs 2 lakh.
The commissioner has yet not considered the statutory appeal ICH filed, it is alleged. It is understood that even a directive by health minister K.K. Shylaja has not worked with the CFS. ICH fans who started a social media campaign to reopen the outlet said that the commissioner was being adamant. Food safety commissioner Veena N. Madhavan, however, said the outlet has been a regular offender and was closed down four times earlier.
"We often consider the improvement plan the organisation concerned submits to us," Ms Madhavan said. "In ICH's case, there is little scope for improvement as it functions from an underground space designated for parking vehicles. The drainage of the whole shopping complex ends there and hence we cannot give it the permission to reopen. In fact, we were lenient to them by not permanently shutting it down despite seizing really bad quality food." Sources said that the building owner also wanted that the outlet be closed and the space be used for parking space as per building rules requirement.
Meanwhile, ICH has reassigned around 44 employees to other outlets, which the society fears will land them all in a loss. "Even if this outlet were to incur losses, workers will keep it running because it's the first ICH outlet in Thiruvananthapuram and second in Kerala after Thrissur," said a senior employee of the outlet. "Earlier there was on a traditional building here until the new arcade came up here. A lot of memories and nostalgia surrounds it."
