PMC to freeze ice-gola sales

As the mercury keeps rising, residents are seeking relief from the sweltering heat by downing cooling drinks and fruits. But the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) says there are hygiene issues involved in buying such stuff from roadside vendors and has decided to ban all hawker stalls selling juices, cut-and-served fruits and ice-golas in the city.

The PMC reasons that unclean ingredients it is especially worried about the ice used to make golas may be used in street food items, leading to a spurt in cases of water-borne diseases.

"No, there is no spurt in cases of gastroenteritis or other water-borne diseases, but the move to ban hawker stalls is still a good one," said Dr R R Pardeshi, PMC acting medical officer. "People will eat at these stalls more often now that the temperature is sky high, so as a precaution we shall ban these stalls."

Doctors welcomed such a move. "Most such stalls are unlicensed and their products sub-standard. The ice is made from undrinkable water, and the fruits go stale," said Dr Devendra Shirole, senior member of Indian Medical Association. Dr Anil Bhandwalkar, president, General Practitioners Association, expressed worries over mosquitoes and flies swarming over stalls and spreading infection.