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Open sale of cut fruits goes on unabated

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI JUNE 13. Open sale of cut-fruits and sugarcane juice in the Capital is going on unabated this summer despite a ban on it. This is putting in danger the health of lakhs of people, particularly those belonging to the lower strata of society and staying in unauthorised colonies and slum clusters.

Though it is the duty of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi to prevent the open sale of cut-fruits, sugarcane juice and food articles, scores of hawkers and vendors can be seen selling these items around Town Hall, the MCD headquarters.

In fact these food items and drinks are being sold at a very low prices which responsible municipal health officers say is due to use of harmful chemicals for giving odour, taste and colour to the food items and drinks. For instance, a glass of `mango shake' is being sold below the Kauria Bridge near Old Delhi railway station at Rs. 5, -- which cost Rs. 20 in South Delhi outlets -- while the one vendor outside railway station itself is selling it at Rs. 3 per glass. At both places long queues could be seen of people mostly rickshaw pullers, labourers, commuters and the train passengers who are ever eager to quench their thirst. Same is the case with sugarcane juice which at many places here is available at Rs. 2 per glass and cut-fruits at the same price.

However, in the slum clusters and unauthorised colonies the price is little bit higher but the product being sold is of poor quality: which will prove to be a health hazard in the long term if not immediately. Municipal health officers said they have been receiving a large number of cases in the primary health centres and hospitals due to the consumption of such food items. But the majority of such patients end up at quakes. "This is proving to be a major health hazard for the Capital during the summer months,'' the official said. "Many of the chemicals used by vendors are cancerous.''

Despite this honest acknowledgement, the MCD is unable to take any action against these vendors and hawkers who are in thousands across the Capital. This is apparently due to prevalence of large-scale corruption among the municipal health inspectors.

Further, the political leadership is also against taking any large-scale action against these vendors. "They are poor people who earn their livelihood and provide bread to their family members by selling these food items. No doubt, these are a health hazard, but we also have to keep in mind the means of livelihood of these people,'' said a senior Congress Councillor.

Another Councillor remarked that taking any action against these vendors only results in harassment to these poor people as the health inspectors seize their food items and equipments. To get them released, the inspector would demand money from these poor people.

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