MCD to shut unlicensed juice and food stalls

According to the civic authorities, this drive is done to reduce summer diseases like cholera and jaundice, reports Vidya Krishnan.

This summer, sugarcane juice, bunta (soda) and even ice cream kiosks and water trolleys on the Capital’s streets are not going to be around to help you beat the heat. At least that’s what the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) plans to do.

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To reduce summer diseases like cholera and jaundice, the civic authorities are targeting unlicensed vendors selling food items unfit for consumption.

“This can be done only when the sale of raw-cut fruits and vegetables on the Capital’s streets is stopped. This year we have intensified raids on unlicensed vendors. Our teams have been instructed to close the kiosk and destroy the consumables. This will be monitored on a weekly basis,” said Dr V.K. Monga, Chairman of the Health Committee.

Turning to popular remedies to beat the heat –– like consuming cut fruits, sugar cane juice, buntas or ice golas sold on the pavement –– can have serious consequences, warns the MCD.

“People must strictly avoid consuming bunta sodas, as the water is always contaminated. So is the ice in sugar-cane juice. Plus the flies on sugarcane kiosks make it a fool-proof way of getting cholera and jaundice,” added Dr Monga.

“It might be refreshing to have a cucumber from the foot path but consumption of such exposed food items will lead to diseases. We strongly recommend that people carry their own water and purchased eatables from licensed vendors only,” added Dr N.K. Yadav, Municipal Health Officer, MCD.