Why has Noida Authority slapped Blinkits cloud kitchen with Rs 5 lakh penalty
Noida Authority has fined Blinkit's cloud kitchen Rs 5 lakh for violating solid waste management and plastic ban rules. An inspection, part of 'Swachh Survekshan' preparations, uncovered unsegregated waste, illegal disposal, and 50 kg of seized single-use plastic. This action against Blinkit's Bistro highlights growing scrutiny of cloud kitchen hygiene and compliance, following similar incidents with Zepto.
New Delhi: A fine of Rs 5 lakh has been slapped by the Noida Authority on a cloud kitchen operated by Blink Commerce Pvt Ltd, the parent company of the Blinkit -- one of India’s largest app-based quick commerce platforms. The penalty was imposed after the cloud kitchen was found violating solid waste management and plastic ban regulations.
The penalty was imposed after a team led by the Noida Authority’s public health officer carried out a ground inspection of a Blinkit-linked cloud kitchen in Sector 62. The Indian Express reported that the inspection was part of the authority’s preparations for ‘Swachh Survekshan’, the central government’s annual urban cleanliness survey. The survey ranks cities and towns on different metrics pertaining to sanitation, hygiene, and waste management.
What did the inspection expose?
The inspection brought to the fore several serious lapses. It was found that the waste was not being segregated at source, liquid waste was discharged into the sewer, and garbage was being handed over to unauthorised scrap dealers who dumped it at various sites across the city, according to the Noida Authority.
It was also detected by the authorities that the cloud kitchen was using single-use plastic for packaging, which is banned in Noida. Around 50 kg of single-use plastic containers were seized from the premises.
In its statement, the Noida Authority said that the area around the building was extremely filthy, with food waste and garbage scattered in nearby parks and open spaces. "Such practices are unacceptable for bulk waste generators.”
Citing breaches of the Solid Waste Management Rules and norms for bulk waste generators, the authority slapped a Rs 5 lakh fine and warned of stricter action in case of any future violations.
The violation concerns Blinkit’s newly launched food-focused vertical, Bistro by Blinkit, operated by Blinkit. The service promises 15-minute delivery and offers ready-to-eat items such as coffee, sandwiches, burgers, chaat, and shakes. This marks the platform’s move beyond its core grocery business.
Crackdown on other shops too
After cracking down on the cloud kitchen, the authority conducted an anti-plastic drive at Amrapali Princely Market in Noida Sector 76. During the drive, shopkeepers were made aware and enforcement action taken against violators. Around 150 kg of plastic was seized from Cold Rock Cafe and 60 kg from Al Nawab Biryani. Around 80 kg of single-use plastic was seized during an inspection at RCube Monad Mall in Sector 42 later in the day.
In June this year, the Food and Drug Administration had suspended the licence of a cloud kitchen operated by Zepto in Mumbai's Dharavi area. The inspection exposed glaring lapses, including fungal growth on food items, storage near stagnant water, and expired goods kept alongside fresh products.
Earlier in January, an Instagram user had posted photos of an area in Mumbai from where many cloud kitchens operate. The photos showed the cloud kitchens located amid muddy, pothole-ridden streets. This had triggered a debate on social media platforms.