The second-hand book sellers,who were moved to Sector 15,rue that their business has gone down after they were shifted. The book sellers plied their trade earlier opposite Panjab University. They claim that due to the market being shifted,the accessibility of students to the market has decreased. A part of the second-hand book sellers market is facing the severe problems. The sheds in the left end of the book market from the entrance are almost all out of business. The rain ruins all books there as these are kept in out the open. The three booths at the left end dont have proper roofs. Since these are at the extreme corner of the market,hardly anyone visits these shops. Apurva,an MSc student from the Panjab University said,We have to specially plan a trip to the market now. In the scorching heat,it is difficult to walk all the way to the other end of the sector. Owners of the booths on the left hand side have stopped opening their shops. They do not have enough clientele and so they have been unable to gather resources to upgrade their shops. Chander,who is a 40 per cent disabled said,We have a nominal rent of Rs. 750 but that is also a burden on me now. I cant even buy more books because of the lack of finances as so Im not able to develop my shop. Moreover people dont want to visit a shop next to public conveniences. Chander used to make a daily earning of Rs 300 when the shops were in front of the university gate. But since it has shifted,he claims that he hardly earns Rs 50 a day. The book market lacks basic amenities. The conveniences are not cleaned daily. Also,the drinking water facility is just next to the restrooms. The book market also does not have any refreshment center. The Sector 15 market,which is the nearest place to get food,is one and a half kilometers away.
