BMC8217;s menu for pavement cooking

Hygiene, clearly, was uppermost on their mind, though in a curious sort of way. Pre-prepared, soggy dosas and stale bhel puri can be stomached by the hardy Mumbaikar, they figured, implying that the rest should forget about feeding on the city8217;s staple fare.

The proposal, tabled by Municipal Commissioner K Nalinakshan at a meeting of group leaders in the BrihanmumbaiMunicipal Corporation BMC today, sought to formulate guidelines for vendors selling edibles as part of the plan for hawking-non-hawking zones in a case being heard by the Bombay High Court.

The proposal was discussed and passed by both group leaders and the BMC8217;s General Body without much debate. But not without a thought for the died-hard non-vegetarian. Thanks to Samajwadi Party corporator Yusuf Abrahani, chicken and mutton sandwiches will be sold hot from the microwave at stalls which can afford to vend them.

The court, in an April 20 order, had directed the BMC to delinate hawking zones by August 1, failing which it will pass the necessary orders as per suggestations made by the petitioner, the Citizens Forum for Protection of Public Spaces.

During the discussion in the House, A K Bastiwala Cong demanded that the proposal be referred back to the commissioner and some changes introduced. 8220;It is impossible to implement it in its present form,8221; he said.

Yakub Memon SP was furious that hisC-Ward was declared as a non-hawking zone though there are a total 3,000 hawkers there. He said the administration should take responsibility if the hawkers took to dacoity and robbing.

Ramesh Joshi SP went a step ahead and suggested that the corporation request the court for some more time. 8220;We should explain the practical difficulties when implementing schemes in public interest,8221; he said, adding that the commissioner had the powers under Sections 414 and 418 of the BMC Act, 1888, to initiate action against those selling unhygienic food. He also felt that with an amendment to these sections, it could be enforced strictly.

Ravindra Pawar Cong was against this and accused the administration of 8220;rehabilitating8221; hawkers even on main roads even though this is disallowed. He cited instances in the M-West ward to prove his point.

The House witnessed an interesting war of words between former mayor Nandu Satam and Abrahani. Satam8217;s statement that 80 per cent of the hawkers accommodated should beMaharashtrians and sons of the soil and the remaining 20 per cent could be from other parts of the country drew vociferous protests.

Retorted a belligerant Abrahani: 8220;The state government on the one hand wants to give free homes to the people but snatch away their jobs.8221; Bastiwala joined in, saying this would amount to breach of Sections 14 and 19 of the Indian Constitution, which calls for equal opportunities for all Indians before the law.

Without naming former chief minister Maohar Joshi, he said he Joshi had got a hawkers plaza constructed in his own ward at Dadar. Abrahani demanded that the ruling Sena-BJP in the BMC 8220;with an open heart8221; build a hawkers8217; plaza in every ward. The proposal was finally passed after a protracted debate.

Guidelines for hawking zones