Indira Canteen caterer demands clearance of Rs 47 cr dues, threatens to stop food supply

BENGALURU: The catering firm Cheftalk Food and Hospitality Service, which supplies food to Indira Canteens, has warned the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) that if the pending bills are not paid, the supply of food will be stopped.

Indira Canteen is a food subsidy programme run by the state government. It has served food to many poor people at a low price and Cheftalk Food and Hospitality Service Pvt Ltd was chosen to supply food to Indira Canteens. But the BBMP has not paid the bill for many years despite the company writing many letters regarding the pending dues. Last week, the firm again brought it to the attention of the corporation, but did no get any positive response.

The BBMP owes Rs 47 crore towards food supply and Cheftalk has warned the corporation that if the bills are not paid by March 29, then food supply will be stopped. But BBMP says that it will cancel the contract given to the company and has now planned to invite fresh tenders for Indira Canteen separately in all the eight zones.

“According to us, the calculation from the company is wrong. We have done verification with our Marshals and there is a difference in the calculations. We told them to take 20 to 25 per cent of what they are claiming,  but they told us they would go to court. We will call for new tenders at the zonal level”, said Tushar Giri Nath, BBMP Chief Commissioner.