Garbage dumps at Vallah veggie market rile visitors, traders

Amritsar, August 1
Learning no lesson from the past, the District Mandi Board has failed to make arrangements for draining rainwater and lifting garbage from vegetable and fruit market in Vallah. Stagnating rainwater and poor sanitation have made things worse for traders and visitors in the market. During a visit to the market recently, teams from the Civil Surgeon’s office led by District Epidemiologist Dr Harpreet Kaur found mosquito larvae. The anti-larva teams of Health Department sprayed larvicide in the market. The Civil Surgeon’s office has already written to the district mandi officer to maintain sanitation in the market.
In November 2023, nephew of Charanjit Singh Batra, president, Fruit and Vegetable Merchants Union, died after contracting dengue in the market. Last year, many traders in the market fell victim to dengue.
Besides, heaps of garbage can be seen everywhere in the market. Varun Sareen, a local activist, said, “Garbage heaps can be seen on all vacant spaces in the market. Rainwater gets accumulated on grounds where farmers unload vegetables. The packing material, plastic wraps, polythene bags, sacks, vegetable and fruit residue is scattered everywhere. The market has turned into dumpsite. We met mandi supervisor and apprised about the poor sanitation in the market. The mandi board has outsourced cleanliness work to a firm. Officials of the mandi board do not keep a check on the firm’s work.”
“Due to poor drainage system, rainwater stagnates in the market for days. Proper stormwater drains should be constructed in the market. The mandi board should clean sheds, ramps, platforms and grounds every day. There should be provision for lifting and processing garbage in the market,” said Mukhtiyar Singh, a farmer, who visits mandi often. — TNS