KOCHI: A couple of months after the Kochi Corporation began its crackdown on the hostels across the city, the enthusiasm seems to have fizzled out.The inspection which began with a lot of fanfare two months back stumbled when the Corporation realized that it did not know locations of various hostels in the city. Subsequently, the Health Standing Committee ordered the health officials in all 22 circles under the Corporation to file a detailed report about the hostels in their areas. According to the reports, there are 63 women’s and 15 men’s hostels in the city. However, majority of the reports lack further details about the accommodations. Now, even with the reports ready, the Corporation is yet to reembark on the inspection drive.Health officials with the Corporation stated that the focus had shifted temporarily due to the ongoing inspection of various hotels in Kochi. “The Health Inspectors and Junior Health Inspectors have been asked to report to the Health Standing Committee regarding the condition of the hostels, while preparing the list of hostels in their area. We are yet to consolidate the reports,” said a top health official with the Corporation.Express had earlier reported on the pitiable state of hostels following which the local body formed a special squad to check whether these accommodations maintained the required standards of hygiene and facilities. A handful of hostels were raided and some, when found to be operating below the prescribed standards, were served notices. The Health Standing Committee had also announced a new hotline number that enables hostel inmates to file complaints without revealing their names. However, the officials stated that they seldom receive complaints via the hotline.
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