‘The muck is still there’: No improvement at Sector 26 market even after CJ rap

The market sees not only visitors but also dealers, traders and vendors from across the Tricity. The place, which should be the cleanest as the city gets its vegetables and fruits from here, appeared to be the dirtiest.

Pavitar Singh, administrator of Market Committee that manages cleanliness of the place, told The Indian Express, “We get cleaning done round the clock. It is mandi area from where 20-25 tonnes of waste is generated. Fruits and vegetables are gotten by farmers at 4 am, then 2 am and then evening hours again.”

He added, “The reason why slush is there is that there had been rain for the last two days. We have our contractor who manages. From time to time even penalty is imposed if the work is not done properly.”

Singh had conducted a surprise inspection last month.

Residents said that it was a clear picture of neglect as not only the visitors but also traders were being given filthy conditions to stay in.

Raj Kumar, a dealer at the market, said: “Can we say that this belt is part of a city like Chandigarh? In the rain, the situation gets worst. Due to filth and no regular lifting of waste or clearing of slush, flies hover everywhere.”

He added, “This is the place where city residents get their vegetables and fruits from. This is becoming a breeding place for mosquitoes. Then they will say dengue cases are increasing.”

Vinod Vashisht, convener, City Forum of Residents Welfare Organisations (CFORWO), said, “The prime responsibility for cleanliness of Sector 26 grain and vegetable market lies with its market committee. If the committee is unable to keep the surroundings neat and clean, why isn’t municipal corporation challaning it for being errant bulk waste generator over and above penalising petty vendors? If it continues this way, UT Administration should not hesitate to suspend the Sector 26 market committee.”

On Wednesday, the Punjab and Haryana High Court had pressed the Chandigarh Administration to explain why it has failed to provide even temporary facilities at the Sector 26 vegetable and fruit market, which has long drawn complaints of filth, congestion and poor access.

A division bench of Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Sanjiv Berry had asked pointedly whether the UT had made any practical arrangements for vendors and consumers while the proposed relocation of the market to Sector 39 remains tied up in litigation.