Mapusa Municipal Council Prohibits Gobi Manchurian Sales Amidst Controversy
Goa, 5th February 2024: Recent measures imposed by municipal authorities in Mapusa, Goa, have prohibited street vendors from selling gobi Manchurian. The decision, driven by concerns raised by an official, revolves around suspicions that vendors may be using reetha, a substance commonly employed for laundry purposes, in the dish’s preparation. This move, spearheaded by the Municipal Council (MMC), is causing dissent among street vendors, who argue against the broad targeting of all vendors for the actions of a few.
The decision to ban gobi Manchurian sales stems from an official’s apprehension about the potential use of reetha in its preparation. This concern is underlined by the official’s observations on the significant price variation between restaurants and street stalls offering the dish. The official remarked, “Have you wondered why you pay ₹70-100 for one plate in restaurants and ₹30-40 in ‘zatras’?” This pricing disparity has prompted municipal authorities to scrutinize the preparation methods employed by street vendors, leading to the prohibition.
Street vendors in Mapusa are expressing dissent over the prohibition, contending that they have been directed to cease serving gobi manchurian due to the actions of a few vendors. This has sparked objections to the broad approach taken by the municipality, with vendors emphasizing that penalizing all for the actions of a minority is unfair. The disagreement underscores the challenges in balancing regulatory measures with the livelihoods of street vendors who rely on such food items for their income.
This is not the first instance where concerns regarding gobi manchurian have been raised in Goa. In 2022, during the Vasco Saptah festival at the Shri Damodar temple, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) mandated the Mormugao Municipal Council to limit the number of stalls offering this particular dish. The recurrence of issues related to the sale of gobi manchurian highlights the need for sustained regulatory scrutiny and measures to ensure food safety standards.
In conclusion, the prohibition on gobi Manchurian sales in Mapusa reflects ongoing concerns about the dish’s preparation methods, with a focus on the potential use of reetha.
