Panipat market associations desperate for solutions

Mukesh Tandon

Loose hanging electricity cables and wires overhead in around 45 markets of Panipat are posing threat to the lives of shopkeepers and consumers both. 

Not only this, drainage of water, open drains in markets, encroachments and parking woes are other major problems being faced by them.

Panipat is a well-known textile hub and has a business turnover of more than Rs 36,000 crore, including Rs 7-8 crore of exports. The city has over 55 markets, of which 42 markets, including Insar market, Pachranga market, Jawahar cloth market, Shawl market, SD College road market, Sanoli road market, Railway road market, Palika market, Blanket market, Bada bazaar, Jain Bazaar, Tehsil camp market, Krishanpura market Amarbhawan chowk market, Sethi chowk market and Choura Bazar among others are under the Sanyukt Vyapaar Mandal (SVM).

A large number of buyers from across India come here daily to shop for handloom products, curtains, bed sheets, blankets, shawls, bath mats, daris and other products for their business. Besides, hundreds of local residents also visit in routine for their desired goods. But, all these are under threat due to hanging nets of electricity cables in almost all markets here.

The markets are overcrowded because of illegal encroachment on roads. There is hardly any space to move around in streets and sparks in the loose hanging cables are a routine here. If any incident of fire occurs in the markets, the fire brigade vehicles cannot even enter these streets.

Naresh Mehta, a saree showroom owner at Insar Market, said besides, hanging electricity cables, water drainage during the rainy season and encroachments are major problems in the market. People have to face problems, especially during the festive season. 

Prem Munjal, a bookshop owner, said, dangling electricity cables’ net at several places in the market was a threat to consumers as well as shopkeepers’ lives. At many places, wire joints are lying uncovered and can cause an untoward incident in case it rains. This is an open invitation to fatal accidents, he said. Gaurav Leekha, president, Insar Market, said hanging electricity wires pose direct threat to consumers. If any incident occurs in the market during the day, even a fire brigade won’t be able to enter here because of encroachments. We have appealed to the department concerned many times to change these old cables, but no one heeds to our genuine problem, he said.

Anil Madaan, president, Sanyukt Vyapaar Mandal, said drainage of rainwater was the biggest problem in the markets of textile city. Besides, encroachments, hanging electricity cables, traffic jams are other big problems, which shopkeepers are forced to live with on a daily basis.

The presidents of various market associations have met the authorities concerned many times asking them to change these open electricity wires with covered electricity cables, but to no avail, he said.

We have also met the MCP Commissioner regarding encroachment problem in the markets. The MCP started issuing challans from encroachers but it, too, stops after some days and the encroachments are back in place, he said. 

The presidents of different markets have time and again demanded a solution to their problems, but the district administration lacks the will power to find any solution it seems, Madaan said.

The administration should constitute a special team of MCP employees and police and issue challan to encroachers daily, so that markets remain encroachment free, the president maintained.

Traderspeak

‘Problems crop up during festive season’

Besides hanging electricity cables, water drainage during the rainy season and encroachments are major problems in the market. People have to face problems especially during the festive season. Naresh Mehta, a saree showroom owner at insar market

‘Open invitation to accidents’

Dangling electricity cable net at several places in the market is a threat to consumers as well as shopkeepers’ lives. At many places, wire joints are lying uncovered and can cause an untoward incident in case it rains. This is an open invitation to fatal accidents. Prem Munjal, a bookshop owner

‘Our genuine problems being ignored’

Hanging electricity wires pose direct threat to consumers. If any incident occurs in the market during the day, even a fire brigade won't be able to enter here because of encroachments. We have appealed to the department concerned many times to change these old cables, but no one heeds to our genuine problem. Gaurav Leekha, president, insar market association

‘Shopkeepers forced to live with problems’

The drainage of rainwater is the biggest problem in the markets of textile city. Besides, encroachments, hanging electricity cables, traffic jams are other big problems which shopkeepers are forced to live with on a daily basis. Anil Madaan, president, sanyukt vyapaar mandal