Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, March 14: Mayor Ananta Narayan Jena’s drive against hawkers selling street food without wearing gloves does not seem to be having much impact as the majority of hawkers are not complying with the diktat.
Jena, accompanied by deputy mayor K Shanti and city health officer CP Das Thursday inspected Bapuji Nagar market and issued directives that fines should be imposed on hawkers found selling food without wearing gloves. Street vendors were also asked to use clean potable water to sell ‘gup chup‘ and ‘aloo dum dahi bara’.
“I have already asked officials concerned to take strict action if any hawker is found selling food under unhygienic conditions and avoiding wearing gloves,” Jena said.
However, BMC does not have food inspectors to check the quality of street food and this prevents it from cracking the whip on hawkers.
The city is dotted with more than 5,000 hawkers across 67 wards under BMC limits who sell street food to make ends meet. A majority of them are yet to be rehabilitated by the civic body in vending zones.
Jena hogged limelight when he roamed around several markets and distributed gloves to hawkers, asking them to ensure hygiene and help check the spread of diseases.
A majority of BMC corporators took a jibe at the mayor, echoing their concerns on sale of unhygienic street food and BMC’s failure in turning the heat on hawkers.
Experts say unhygienic food kiosks can become a potential source for outbreak of disease. A major main concern is that the water used by hawkers is not filtered and is sourced from unhygienic places, said a doctor at the BMC Municipal Hospital.
Four-time corporator Sheikh Nizamuddin said BMC should initiate action against violators, including hotels and eateries, to ensure that food is hygienic.
