The municipal administration’s sustained action against eateries cooking foodstuff on roads has entered another phase with the municipal officials filing a First Information Report (FIR) against a Chinese food stall owner on Hill Road.
The municipal administration’s drive began on May 11, following the Supreme Court’s order which banned cooking on the streets. "Action has been taken against more than 1,200 eateries. In the H-West Ward, notices have been served to 68 hawkers and offences have been registered against 47. A FIR was registered against a Chinese food stall owner on Hill Road, the hawker was resisting the seizure action taken in coordination with the police," said Dr. S.S. Kudalkar, Deputy Municipal Commissioner with the municipal administration.
Dr. Kudalkar said that the sustained action had a sobering effect on hawkers. "I have been conducting surprise checks and I have told my staff to not to buckle under political pressure. Previously politicians would prevent us from taking action, now they approach us to replicate the seizure action in their locality. I appeal to residents not to purchase any goods from unauthorised hawkers," Kudalkar added.
The municipal administration’s seizure action continues beyond midnight. Since March 2007, the municipal administration claims to have taken action against 28,677 hawkers, seized 7,619 handcarts and acted against 8,000 eateries. "In the city limits alone, the municipal administration has served 1,800 notices, registered 240 offences and filed 6 FIRs," informed Kudalkar.
Locals are all praise for the Supreme Court. "Residents surveyed roads in Khar, Santacruz and Bandra and found that cooking on roads had decreased by at least 70 per cent. However, I feel the credit for the eviction should go to the Supreme Court and not the BMC," said Anil Joseph, a resident of Bandra.
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