GUWAHATI, March 19 - The Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) along with the city police carried out a massive eviction drive against pavement encroachers, unhygienic food stalls and restaurants to ramp up preventive measures against the outbreak of COVID 19 and clear other bottlenecks that lead to traffic congestion.
The eviction drive has been carried out with the aim to ensure free movement on the pavements for the general public.
The Corporation meanwhile appealed to the citizens not to buy food items that are not hygienically prepared and sold on footpaths.
The drive was conducted in Panbazar, Lakhtokia, Mach-khowa and Fancy Bazar areas today in the presence of DGP Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta, Commissioner of Police MP Gupta, DIG Nitul Gogoi, Additional Commissioner GMC Dwijen Singh, DCP Traffic Ranjan Bhuyan and other officials of the GMC.
�The action on the ground started as soon the administration swung into action, removing encroachments, including structures and compounds, clearing the entire footpaths at Fancy Bazar. With the assistance of around 60 police personnel, the GMC evicted around 132 unauthorised shops. Encroachments including cabins, extension sheds and bamboo structures were also removed,� a GMC source said adding a total of 61 temporary kiosks were dismantled during the drive.
�The Enforcement Branch of the Corporation seized three tables, two cylinders and two carpets. Its Health Branch closed down two food corners, namely RK Hotel and Sharma Chat House, for not adhering to food safety norms,� the source added.
The Corporation realised penalty of Rs 14,000 from 22 shops. The GMC has also issued notices to two buildings situated at Hem Baruah Road for failing to show the approved NOC and Plan.
