The Tribune Impact: Shop owners relieved as Jalandhar civic body clears Sanjay Gandhi Market dump

The businessmen at Sanjay Gandhi Market breathed a sigh of relief as the massive dump in the market that had disrupted their livelihoods has been cleared. The Municipal Corporation (MC) responded swiftly to concerns raised just two days ago in these columns as they removed the debris and applied chalk powder to the site. The MC has also issued strict orders to ragpickers to prevent dumping in the area.

The newly cleared area has now been transformed into parking space for local traders.

The traders expressed their relief and gratitude. “It was becoming increasingly difficult to run our businesses with that dump looming over us,” said Gaurav, a shop owner nearby. “We could not attract customers and the smell was unbearable. We finally have parking space again, which is crucial for our sales,” he added.

Another businessman said the cleanliness has made a huge difference. “We are thankful that this issue was highlighted and the MC finally listened to our concerns,” he said, adding the dump had created a health hazard for them and was affecting their sales; thus, considering this peak festive season, it was important the dump was removed.

“We appreciate the clean-up; however, we urge the authorities to ensure this space remains clean and usable,” said Rajiv Verma, a businessman, adding that they do not want the same problem to return in the future. He said they would also ensure no one from the market threw garbage at the site and urged MC officials to keep an eye over the activities of ragpickers who often end up throwing waste collected from other areas in their market.