Vegetable market chokes city area

Traders have occupied all streets, creating hurdles for commuters

OKARA:

The issue of shifting the vegetable market from the congested area of the city has not been resolved despite the passage of 10 years.

Traders in the market have taken over all the streets in the area, creating hurdles in travel for the people of the entire city.

The three streets adjacent to the market have been converted into a no-go area for the citizens using the thoroughfare.

The residents of Faizabad Sabri Colony, Muhammadpura Akbar Road, Chirag Sindhu Colony and people living in adjoining villages face extreme difficulties while passing through the main bazaar.

Reportedly, the Rescue 1122 ambulances also face hurdles in taking patients to the district headquarters hospital through the congested areas. A large number of students going to schools and colleges have also been suffering.

Even a rickshaw or motorcycle can’t pass through the roads around the vegetable market, while pedestrians also find it difficult to walk in the market.

An influential mafia has taken over the streets and has established its monopoly.

Whenever the issue of relocating the vegetable market out of the city is raised, the mafia creates hurdles and delays the process under various pretexts.

The district administration also appears to have failed to take action to address the growing difficulties of the citizens caused by encroachments.

Officials of the authorities appear to be helpless against the mafia controlling the market. No action is being taken to open the main roads of Sabzi Mandi, while the encroachers operate freely on the government land.

Representatives of local social welfare groups have repeatedly protested but their complaints have been ignored by the departments concerned.

A citizen stated that Sahiwal Commissioner Ahsan Waheed, Okara DC Usman Ali and local corporation Chief Officer Rana Naveed should play their role to expedite the relocation of the vegetable market out of the city.

Another local resident said orders should be issued to remove temporary and permanent encroachments from all the roads around the vegetable market so that the flow of traffic passing around the area is not affected and thousands of citizens of the area do not face problems.

He said the students going to schools and colleges, employees going to government departments, traders coming to the market for shopping and residents were equally affected by the situation.

When contacted, Deputy Commissioner Usman Ali said that the relocation of the vegetable market out of the city is now inevitable. “We are aware of the problems of the citizens because of the presence of this market in the city,” he said.

He added that a comprehensive plan is being drawn up for shifting the market. “The process of relocating the market out of the city will be initiated soon,” said the DC.

He continued that orders have been issued to the chief officer of the municipal corporation to address the difficulties of the people.

“A major campaign should be launched to eliminate temporary and permanent encroachments from the roads around the market,” he said.

Moreover, he highlighted that the mafia involved in encroachment has been ordered to pay heavy fines and cases have been registered against them.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, October 19^th, 2020.