No gill kill: Fish vendors asked to vacate Ghanta Ghar

Promise to preserve historical monument, its beauty if govt helps in resettlement

PESHAWAR: Fish vendors, who own shops around the historical Ghanta Ghar, set up camps and protested in the market on Friday against district administration’s orders to vacate the area. They were directed to stop selling fish near the monument and transfer their fish market outside the walled city. The traders accused the government of depriving them of their rightful business.

At loggerheads

There are at least 35 shops around the monument selling fish for the last several decades.

According to the Directorate of Archaeology, the monument is made of limestone and excessive water used by fish sellers to keep their produce fresh has a negative impact on the structure’s foundation.

Moreover, the government asked all traders to vacate their decades-old shops as it believes the stench and dirty water has tarnished the beauty of not only Ghanta Ghar but of the entire historical market.

The district administration has also started a drive against encroachments. In January 2015, the government started an operation around the monument against encroachers which was met with strong armed resistance. As a result, several shopkeepers lost their lives and many others were injured in the process.

Possible resolution

Agreeing with the government’s point of view, traders agreed to vacate the area if the district administration assists them in resettlement.

“These shops are our personal property and we have been in this business for the last several generations,” Asif Ali, one of the fish traders in the city, told The Express Tribune. He added, “We are ready to transfer our businesses to suitable places outside the city if the government facilitates the process and helps us set up our trade.” Reiterating that their business around the monument was not new, Ali said the government’s sudden interest in preserving the historical building and its beauty made little sense.

Usman, another trader, said “Every day, officials come here and impose fines of thousands of rupees on us in an attempt to force us to close our businesses.” He added the traders will move out of Ghanta Ghar and assist the administration in conserving the historical entity and marketplace if the government reciprocates and aids in relocating their trade.

Usman added the district administration told them a ground has been allocated for fish traders and their business near Faqirabad.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 27^th,  2016.