The Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) as precaution for the coronavirus outbreak, on Tuesday evicted several vendors in Ganeshguri and also seized as well as destroyed a huge amount of vegetables and fruits.

An official from the GMC said the eviction was carried out as per the orders by the court and the vendors who were evicted were occupying the area illegally and were also allegedly littering the area posing a treat of contamination to themselves as well as the people around.

The official further said the GMC had served them notice to evict the place several times but every time after they were evicted, they would immediately come and sit in the place the very next day.

Following the evictions, some of the vendors alleged that the GMC had destroyed a huge amount of food products which could have been used later on.

One of the vendors, Simanta Das, said, “It’s fine that the GMC had asked us to leave the place, we were ready to do but without any notice they just came and destroyed our products. We were just selling them because we had no other option as the state was going to a lockdown and none of us had any other mode of earning a livelihood. We cannot afford any shops and so we sit on the streets and sell the vegetable or fruits.”

Biswajit Deka, another vendor, said, “What are we poor people supposed to do? We are not given any job by the government and when we bring in some employment opportunity by ourselves, the government starts to evict us terming it illegal. We asked for vending permit but they claim that it is being done but we are not even made aware on what exactly is happening.”

He said they are being treated worst than illegal immigrants like this and the government should take steps to solve this issue or else these people will “die of hunger”.

It may be mentioned that as a preventive measure to arrest the spread of Covid-19, the GMC has decided to sprinkle disinfectant at different areas of the city from March 24 to 29 with the help of state fire & emergency services.

The assemble points assigned for the fire tenders are — Dispur Supermarket/Fire Station Centre, Guwahati Club Point, GMCH Bhangagarh, Mazar Road Near ASTC, Adabari bus stop and Lokhra Chariali.