Karnataka Health Minister Orders Hot Drinking Water Mandatory at All Bengaluru Hotels

Bengaluru, August 2: As drinking water quality continues to deteriorate across Bengaluru, residents are increasingly falling ill with a range of health problems. To protect public health, the state Health Department has decided to make it mandatory for all hotels and eateries to serve hot drinking water to customers.

While premium and standard hotels already offer hot water, Health Minister UT Khader has stated that the rule must be extended to small and roadside eateries as well. Hotel owners who were consulted on the matter called it a good decision, and customers too have welcomed the move.

This announcement comes close on the heels of an earlier Health Department order banning the sale of junk food near schools in the interest of student health. Minister Khader has now taken this additional step to curb illness caused by contaminated water consumption.

Some hotels are already providing hot water to their patrons, but the Health Department is now making this a universal requirement across all categories of eateries. The decision is seen as a sound measure for public health — though the key question going forward is how effectively hotels will comply.

Overall, hotels will no longer be able to cite gas shortages or other constraints as a reason to withhold hot drinking water. The directive ensures that all customers who need hot drinking water will have access to it.