More Than 80% Water Samples Used In Mumbai Food Stalls Unfit For Consumption

Use of contaminated water in street shops and food stalls pose a major threat for various illness. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) tested water samples from the unauthorized food stalls in the A ward and found that 81% of the foodsamples were unfit for consumption. The A ward in south Mumbai includes areas like Colaba, Marine Drive, Dock Area, Ballard Estate, Carnac Road and P D’Mello road. On an average, 18% of all the water samples in the city were found unfit for consumption. Most of the samples tested, the official said, were from popular roadside snacks like pani puri and pav bhaji.

The samples contain Escherichia coli bacteria or E-coli bacteria in them, which can cause severe stomachache, diarrhea, and urinary tract infection.

Second in the list was C ward, (Kalbadevi, Chira Bazaar) with 67% of the water samples unfit for consumption. Sixty percent of water samples in T ward (Mulund) contained E-coli.

“Demolition was also initiated but the stall owners approached the High Court, which has granted a stay on the condition that the owners keep two separate containers for drinking and cleaning utensils,” a senior civic official said.

Municipal Commissioner Ajoy Mehta has carried out a massive drive against street vendors in the last few months. The civic body has taken action against 35,758 street hawkers between February and June 15, 2015 according to data obtained by the license department of BMC.

“We are taking maximum precaution against the spread of water-borne diseases like malaria and dengue in the monsoons. We will continue to take serious action against all unauthorized and illegal street vendors operating in the city,” the official added.

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Source-Medindia