CMC raids Bali Yatra food stalls, fines vendors

The annual Cuttack Bali Yatra sees the footfall of lakhs of people every day. While the different shops and amusement rides make up a studded attraction, food is also one of the primary reasons why many throng to the fair.

Taking cognizance of public health safety, a health team of the Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) conducted raids on both the upper and lower Bali Yatra ground. The aim of this surprise drive was to check the hygiene and quality of food being prepared and sold during the fair, as well as identify stale and contaminated materials.

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Taking swift action, the team raided several food stalls and destroyed stale food items. Moreover, garbage trucks were seen carrying away large quantities of leftover food to prevent its reuse or reselling.

During the drive, food stalls found to have been storing and selling stale food were fined on the spot while others also received stern warnings. The move also ensured that the Bali Yatra adhered to high standards of food safety and hygiene as strict action is likely to deter vendors from selling expired or stale food materials and ensure an incident-free experience for visitors of the world-renowned fair.
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In a similar tone, the CMC had also carried out such surprise raids during previous editions of the Bali Yatra as well. Unpleasantly, a whopping 1.8 quintals of stale food was seized and destroyed in 2023, and over 2 quintals were disposed of in the 2022 edition of the Bali Yatra, sources said.