GUWAHATI: The Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) today conducted a raid at a sweet factory in Rehabari over its alleged unhygienic conditions and absence of necessary documentation. The issue came to light when residents in the neighbourhood complained about the location of the factory in a residential area.
People in the neighbourhood complained that there is improper disposal of waste which does not decompose. As a result, drains are blocked and the stench becomes unbearable.
Speaking to G Plus, Sandipta Purkayastha, a resident staying nearby said, “There is a factory of a sweet shop here. It’s been a month or maybe over a month, but since then it’s been stinking.”
Purkayastha also alleged that sometimes they start making sweets late at night around 1 AM, much to the annoyance of the locals.
“We can’t tolerate the stink anymore. They work till late at night around 1:30-2 AM,” said Purkayastha, further adding that “it’s unbearable.”
Another resident nearby, Anumita Kar Rai, while speaking to G Plus, said, “Due to this sweet factory, everyone here is facing problems due to the filthy smell.”
“The roads are so dirty that people are not able to walk,” said Rai, adding “We want this to be removed from here soon.”
Thereafter, a formal complaint was lodged by the residents of a nearby building a few days ago. Officials from the GMC and the Health Branch subsequently arrived at the spot to inspect the place.
Speaking to G Plus, a GMC official said, “These are illegal sweet factories. We have already sealed it.” The official added that he had just sealed another biscuit and sweet factory in Boragaon upon another complaint.
The owner of the sweet factory was summoned but was not present at the scene at the time. The factory supposedly provides sweets for a shop called New Soaltee Sweets near Nepali Mandir, Paltan Bazaar.
“Upon coming here, I saw that this is a residential area. Secondly, they were not able to produce any licence and their fire safety was also unsystematic,” the GMC official added.
“We have been sealing all the unhygienic factories of Guwahati,” said the official, adding that they should operate in designated commercial spaces and not residential areas.
The factory was finally sealed around 3:45 PM. Police were also seen confiscating the equipment from the factory.