'No Khao Gully near Cotton University’, says GMC official after eviction drive

Digital Desk: The Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) authorities clarified on Friday amid rumors that a "Khao Gully" will be built near Cotton University, stating that the street food hub would not be established there.

In response to a query over whether a "Khao Gully" will be built next to the college, a GMC official stated, "The Khao Gully will not be built next to Cotton University. I believe the general secretary of the college stated during a press conference that it would disrupt the sanctity of the university's academic environment. The decision to establish the street food zone has thus been changed for the time being."

The GMC officials carried out a significant eviction drive earlier today in the Panbazaar area of Guwahati. The eviction drive aims to remove all small shops and food vendors from Nehru Park, Cotton University, and nearby areas of the food villa.

The GMC officials said in a statement regarding the eviction drive, “Today we conducted an eviction drive near the Nehru Park and Cotton University campus. We have asked all vendors and stall owners to leave the areas as soon as possible. If they fail to do so, we will have to forcefully evict them from the place.”

One of the vendor broke down in tears and said that they have lost their only source of income. 

A female food vendor said, “We were not given any advance notice before the authorities cleared this area. We have been preparing a variety of dishes, including meat and other ingredients, for our regular clients since the morning. All of the food we cooked now needs to be thrown out. Who will be held responsible for all the loss we have incurred? The authorities are concerned in clearing the area, but are least bothered about our resettlement.”