Sanitary conditions worsen at Fruit and Vegetable Market
Sanitary conditions worsen at Fruit and Vegetable Market
By Atif Khan
ISLAMABAD: Traders and visitors have been facing problems at Fruit and Vegetable Market, Sector I-11, due to faulty sewerage system as rainwater mixed with sewage enters low-lying shops and turns roads into ponds after every downpour.“Despite repeated requests the Capital Development Authority (CDA) has paid no attention to replace the outdated sewerage system, which turns the market into a pool of water after every rain,” said Fruit Market Union Secretary Haji Dilawar while talking to Daily Times.He said the CDA had approved replacement of the old sewerage system last year but the project had not been undertaken yet.Dilawar said the present sewerage lines designed for a couple of shops were laid down decades ago. He said with the passage of time the market had expanded but the sewerage system was not upgraded. He said due to limited capacity of the lines sewage overflowed most of the time inundating roads of the market. He said sometimes sewage entered basements of their shops.Encroachments and haphazard parking on both sides of the road further aggravates the situation as vehicles scatter filth with their tires all around in the area,” said Ghulam Qadir, another trader.During a visit to the market Daily Times found that rain water accumulated on the roads had damaged structures of most of the shops. “Water enters basements of our shops being used as godowns and destroys vegetables and fruits,” said Shabbir Hussain, another trader.Qadir Baksh, a supplier of mango from southern Punjab, said due to poor sanitation and sewerage system they were facing the risk of water borne diseases including diarrhoea, dysentery and hepatitis.Wholesale Fruit and Vegetable Market Traders Union Chairman Siraj Agha told Daily Times that the CDA was earning Rs 30-40 million from trucks’ entry fee monthly but was doing nothing for maintenance of the market.He said Islamabad fruit and vegetable market was a hub as fruits and vegetables to different areas including NWFP and Azad Jammu and Kashmir were being supplied from this market. He said it was sad that despite huge volume of business the CDA was least bothered about the sewerage problems of the market.He alleged that the CDA officials were receiving monthlies from encroachers who were mainly responsible for worsening condition of the market. “The CDA has deputed over 100 officials in the market to keep things in order, but they are doing nothing except collecting monthlies,” he said.He said the CDA had formed a committee comprising the civic body and traders’ representatives for development and maintenance of the market. The committee members from CDA were hardly visiting the market and even not consulting the traders’ representatives for allocation of funds for the market maintenance, he deplored.CDA Director Municipal Administration Momen Ali Agha admitted that fruit and vegetable market was facing sewerage, road, water and solid waste problems. He was of the view that traders threw rotten fruits and vegetables in drains that choked lines. He said CDA was considering to cover the drains to check the choking of sewerage lines. He said CDA Maintenance Department was working to repair the roads and resolve water supply and solid waste management issues of the market.
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2008\07\18\story_18-7-2008_pg11_9
By Atif Khan
ISLAMABAD: Traders and visitors have been facing problems at Fruit and Vegetable Market, Sector I-11, due to faulty sewerage system as rainwater mixed with sewage enters low-lying shops and turns roads into ponds after every downpour.“Despite repeated requests the Capital Development Authority (CDA) has paid no attention to replace the outdated sewerage system, which turns the market into a pool of water after every rain,” said Fruit Market Union Secretary Haji Dilawar while talking to Daily Times.He said the CDA had approved replacement of the old sewerage system last year but the project had not been undertaken yet.Dilawar said the present sewerage lines designed for a couple of shops were laid down decades ago. He said with the passage of time the market had expanded but the sewerage system was not upgraded. He said due to limited capacity of the lines sewage overflowed most of the time inundating roads of the market. He said sometimes sewage entered basements of their shops.Encroachments and haphazard parking on both sides of the road further aggravates the situation as vehicles scatter filth with their tires all around in the area,” said Ghulam Qadir, another trader.During a visit to the market Daily Times found that rain water accumulated on the roads had damaged structures of most of the shops. “Water enters basements of our shops being used as godowns and destroys vegetables and fruits,” said Shabbir Hussain, another trader.Qadir Baksh, a supplier of mango from southern Punjab, said due to poor sanitation and sewerage system they were facing the risk of water borne diseases including diarrhoea, dysentery and hepatitis.Wholesale Fruit and Vegetable Market Traders Union Chairman Siraj Agha told Daily Times that the CDA was earning Rs 30-40 million from trucks’ entry fee monthly but was doing nothing for maintenance of the market.He said Islamabad fruit and vegetable market was a hub as fruits and vegetables to different areas including NWFP and Azad Jammu and Kashmir were being supplied from this market. He said it was sad that despite huge volume of business the CDA was least bothered about the sewerage problems of the market.He alleged that the CDA officials were receiving monthlies from encroachers who were mainly responsible for worsening condition of the market. “The CDA has deputed over 100 officials in the market to keep things in order, but they are doing nothing except collecting monthlies,” he said.He said the CDA had formed a committee comprising the civic body and traders’ representatives for development and maintenance of the market. The committee members from CDA were hardly visiting the market and even not consulting the traders’ representatives for allocation of funds for the market maintenance, he deplored.CDA Director Municipal Administration Momen Ali Agha admitted that fruit and vegetable market was facing sewerage, road, water and solid waste problems. He was of the view that traders threw rotten fruits and vegetables in drains that choked lines. He said CDA was considering to cover the drains to check the choking of sewerage lines. He said CDA Maintenance Department was working to repair the roads and resolve water supply and solid waste management issues of the market.
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2008\07\18\story_18-7-2008_pg11_9
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