In a bid to crack down on unauthorised roadside vendors selling food in unhygienic conditions,the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) will now form special ward-level squads. These squads will carry out regular surprise visits in their areas to ensure quality of food items. The decision was taken after a pani puri vendor in Thane was caught on camera while urinating in a vessel which he was using to store pani. After the news reports,MNS workers had vandalised food stalls across the city,thereby pressuring the civic body to take immediate measures. Officials had said that a meeting of top health department officials of the BMC was called to chalk out an action plan. Civic officials said instructions regarding the formation of special ward-level squads have been issued. The official also said the quality of the food served by these vendors will now be under scanner. Additional Municipal Commissioner Manisha Mhaiskar said these squads will also keep a check on those vendors having BMCs licences too. On Tuesday itself,surprise visits were conducted in and around the city. Executive Heath Officer G T Ambe said the BMC was targeting unauthorised vendors who sell pani-puri,bhel-puri or juice or items with unhygienic water content since it can lead to water-borne diseases.
