Health risks aplenty at scooter market

Harshraj Singh

Advertisement

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, November 12

Shopkeepers as well as workers at the scooter market near Bhai Chatar Singh Park are falling ill. Thanks to the garbage being dumped near the market.

People working here complain of throat infection, irritation in the eyes and other health problems, saying that the garbage being dumped near their shops was responsible for their illness.

Following the orders of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, the scooter market was shifted from Gill Road to these shops located under the flyover (on Bus stand road) near Bhai Chatar Singh Park, Model Town, around seven years ago. The garbage dump site is uncovered from a side opposite the park. It is located at a place between the shops and public toilets.

A portion of the road where the garbage is being dumped has also damaged, but the civic body is yet to take requisite measures in this regard. Shopkeepers claimed that they pay rent of shops to the civic body, but it has failed to redress their issue.

“Besides suffering from throat infection, I have undergone an eye surgery. My shop is located a few steps away from the dump. Solid waste is also dumped on the road, which adds to our woes,” said Balwinder Singh, who is running a shop here for the past seven years.

Another shopkeeper Somnath Sood said: “I suffered from eye irritation, nausea and other health problems. There is no check on the menace of flies and mosquitoes here, leaving us to suffer from health problems. Even my workers are falling ill.”

Jasvir Singh, a mechanic, said: “I faced eye irritation and throat infection after coming in contact with the waste being dumped on the road. The civic body should take immediate steps to remove this dump as many people are falling ill.”

Ram Janak, who works at the Scooter market, said: “It is difficult to work under poor sanitary conditions. The foul stench emanating from the dump has made our life miserable. Whenever it rains, it becomes all the more difficult to work here.”

President of Scooter Sellers’ Association, Ludhiana, Satinderpal Singh said: “Many shopkeepers and workers claim to have been suffering from health problems due to this garbage dump adjoining our shops. Besides visitors, nearly 250 shopkeepers and workers at the scooter market are suffering due to this dump. Despite paying rent of shops to the civic body, there is no facility. We requested the authories several times, but our demand is always ignored.”

Infuriated shopkeepers said the banned plastic carry bags are dumped here in large numbers. “There are heaps of garbage outside the toilets that are already in a dilapidated condition. Earlier, some hospitals used to dump bio-medical waste here. The Punjab Pollution Control Board had then taken action against the dumping of bio-medical waste,” the shopkeepers said.

Professor and head of ENT Department at the Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, Dr Manish Munjal said: “If these people work near the garbage dump, they can suffer from throat infection.” He said the bacteria, which grow on litter, can enter inside the nose through air and can further cause throat problem.

MC’s additional commissioner, Rishipal Singh said: “I will instruct the officials concerned to take requisite steps in this regard.”

Doctorspeak

"If these people work near the garbage dump, they can suffer from throat infection. The bacteria, which grows on litter, can enter the nose through air and further cause throat problems." Dr Manish Munjal, Professor and head of ENT Dept at the DMCH

Residentspeak

"Besides visitors, nearly 250 shopkeepers and workers at the scooter market are suffering from health problems due to this garbage dump adjoining our shops. Despite paying rent of shops to the civic body, there is no facility. We requested the authorities several times, but our demand is always ignored." Satinderpal Singh , President of scooter sellers' association, Ludhiana

"I suffered from eye irritation, nausea and other health problems. There is no check on the menace of flies and mosquitoes here, leaving us to suffer from health problems. Even my workers are falling ill." Somnath Sood, another shopkeeper

"I faced eye irritation and throat infection after coming in contact with the waste being dumped on the road. The civic body should take immediate steps to remove this dump as many people are falling ill." Jasvir Singh, a mechanic

"It is difficult to work under poor sanitary conditions. The foul stench emanating from the dump has made our life miserable. Whenever it rains, it becomes all the more difficult to work here." Ram Janak, works at the scooter market

"Besides suffering from throat infection, I have undergone an eye surgery. My shop is located a few steps away from the dump. Solid waste is also dumped on the road, which adds to our woes." Balwinder Singh, is running a shop here for the past seven years