Lack of hygiene a worry at Vallah Sabji Mandi

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, March 18

While shopping malls in the city remain closed for most of the time in the day, it seems that instructions of shutdown in view of the coronavirus threat have not impacted the district’s largest vegetable market— Vallah Sabji Mandi. On Wednesday, the business remained as usual throughout the day. But, shopkeepers said lack of hygiene and cleanliness measures were a major cause of worry.

“Some people were seen wearing masks, but there has been no decrease in footfall of visitors,” said Gurmeet Singh, a vegetable seller.

The shopkeepers said they had written to the authorities concerned on a number of times for the cleanliness of the mandi, but to no avail. Heaps of rotten vegetables and puddle can be seen at different spots in the entire market.

Stray animals eating on the rotten vegetables thrown by the shopkeepers can be seen roaming in the market. “We are always at a risk of getting infected due to the unhygienic environment here,” said Suresh, a shopkeeper.

Farmers from nearby districts also come to the market to sell their produce. Even most of the vegetable vendors purchase their stocks from Vallah Mandi. Besides, a large number of people also visit the place to buy vegetables at economical rates.

Another shopkeeper Jagtar Singh said, “Around 8,000 to 10,000 people, including shopkeepers, labourers, farmers and transporters, visit the mandi daily. People do not find a clean place to drink water.”

The grain market in Bhagatawala has already been closed as it operates only in the wheat and rice purchase seasons.