VMC’s ‘spiced-up’ strike on Pani-Puri vendors

Pani-Puri may be a hot favourite for the civilians, but the Vadodara Municipal Corporation prefers civilians’ health more than that.

Last year, around this time, VMC’s crackdown on pani-puri vendors and makers paused the production and selling of dish across the city. However, that did not affect the vendors and makers of raw materials this year.

On Wednesday, the food safety officials raided the 25 household factories of makers of raw material used in pani-puri, only to discover more than a heap load of unhygienic material. Almost 160 kg of raw material was destroyed, including rotten potatoes, ‘puris’, stale ‘channa’, contaminated water, and chutney among other materials.

The drive was conducted in Khodiyarnagar and Ganeshnagar localities of the city. The conditions and environment that these materials were made, grown or produced were also at unhealthy areas.

After last year’s raids, the VMC conducted workshops to the vendors of this savoury that is believed to be the reason for food and water-borne diseases. The workshops were aimed at helping the street food vendors to prepare pani-puri in a more hygienic and healthy manner. Similar workshops were conducted this year as well.