Bhubaneswar, Jan. 13 -- As part of a drive to make Bhubaneswar a beggar-free zone, the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) banned distribution of food and clothes to homeless at roadside under its jurisdiction in the city.

As per the decision, nobody will offer free food and clothes to poor and homeless at roadside under BMC jurisdiction without permission from the civic body.

Individuals and organisations may distribute free food and clothes to destitute people at shelter homes managed by the BMC after taking permission from it, the BMC said in a notification yesterday.

In violation of the order, legal action will be taken against the individuals/organisations, the BMC warned.

The civic body in its notification clarified that the...