Coinciding with the first anniversary of Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, a new initiative of the Mysuru City Corporation (MCC) under the National Urban Livelihood Mission (NULM) — Swachh Street Food — will be launched on Gandhi Jayanti here on Friday.
The work on the initiative, which will have two planned food zones in busy localities, will be launched and the facilities are expected to be ready in a month’s time.
The two food zones had been proposed at Ballal Circle and near St. Philomena’s Hospital on the Bengaluru-Mysuru National Highway.
The MCC had recently cracked down on street-food vendors and had evicted them at several places, especially in the core areas of the city.
It is perhaps to rehabilitate them that the MCC proposed Swachh Street Food. The food vendors have to fulfil certain conditions before they are allotted space at the food zones. Each zone will have 20 to 25 food stalls.
The food zones will have facilities such as temporary structures for vending food, potable drinking water, seating area, toilets, among others.
MCC Commissioner C.G. Betsurmath told reporters on Thursday that public health specialist Indira Chakravarthy, who is also in the advisory committee of Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, will be attending the launch of the initiative.
“Her advice was sought to make the initiative successful,” he said, adding that Shyam Cherian, scientist at the Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI), had also been consulted.
Dr. Betsurmath said the launch was coinciding with the first anniversary of Swachh Bharat Abhiyan since Mysuru had bagged the ‘cleanest city’ rating.
In reply to a query, he said the MCC will be monitoring the functioning of the food zones, although the vendors will be running the facility. “We want to ensure that the food served under the initiative is hygienic,” he replied.
On the selection of vendors for the food zones, he said only vendors from below poverty line households will be considered, provided they meet the guidelines. However, there won’t be any permanent structures at the food zones, though temporary shelters will be provided, he replied.
Mayor R. Lingappa said the project was in view of the recent crackdown on street-food vendors and the MCC’s resolve would be to facilitate availability of safe and hygienic food. The Swachh Bharat Mission volunteers will be felicitated at the Mysuru Zilla Panchayat on Friday.
