Sambalpur, Oct. 2: The municipal corporation will start conducting raids on outlets selling food items across the city from Monday, days ahead of Durga Puja. This is part of a larger initiative to ensure the sale of hygienic food during the festival, when a large crowd is expected to gather in the city.

"This is a preventive measure. A special squad has also been formed to conduct raids on shops that deal with food items. The squad has been formed by inducting officials of the health department and the Sambalpur Municipal Corporation (SMC)," said food safety officer Rudra Pratap Mandal.

"The squad will move around the city and go to every shop that handles food items and check the quality of food in presence of a police team. The team will destroy food items that are found to be of poor quality," Mandal said.

Mandal added that two vehicles would be engaged for the team. The drive will begin on October 3 and continue till the Pujas end.

The city had a tough time containing jaundice in 2014. At least 25 people died due to the disease and around 3,000 people were affected. Contaminated food is one of the major reasons behind the occurrence of jaundice.

"A sea of people is expected to gather in the city during Durga Puja. The shops handling food items will be asked to follow safety norms. They will also be asked to cover food items properly, use gloves, keep the surroundings clean and provide safe drinking water to the customers during the drive," said an official of the SMC.

The city residents have appreciated the civic body's decision to start the drive to check sale of unhygienic food items days before the festivities. "It is essential to prevent the sale of unhygienic food during the festival. I am happy that the SMC is taking preventive measures to ensure the sale of hygienic food during the festival. The drive will make eating at the roadside eateries, restaurants and other shops selling eatables safe," said Bulu Mishra, a local resident.

"Durga Puja will be organised in more than 55 places in Sambalpur. The team should reach every area before the Puja and create awareness about the importance of consuming safe food. The people should also be careful while buying food items from the market during the Puja," said Debadutta Senapati, another local resident.