Labourers seek solution to poor sewerage at Hoshiarpur mandi

Our Correspondent

Hoshiarpur, July 16

A group of labourers at the Hoshiarpur grain market held a protest on Thursday, demanding immediate solution to the sewerage problem at the mandi complex.

Hari Chand, president of the Galla Mandi Labourers’ Union, Hoshiarpur, while addressing the protesters, said if the sewerage system was not repaired soon in the district’s main grain market, the market would be closed and a sit-in would be organised, closing mandi’s both gates.

He was accompanied by the vice-president of the union, Kailash Chand, and the general secretary, Raj Kumar. He said due to the poor sewerage system, in the mandi, the workers and farmers coming here were facing a lot of problem. The protesters said they had taken up the issue with the mandi authorities since long but they were not being heard anywhere. Due to this, they were forced to hold the protest.

Leader of the labourers Sunil Kumar, Mohinder Singh and Guljari Lal said due to poor drainage of mandi sewerage, the foul smell emanating from toilets was causing problems for them. They said during rainy days, dirty water enters the grain piles in the market making them unfit for human consumption. He said if the market committee officials do not take an appropriate step and solve the problem, it might lead to spread of diseases.

Problem will be sorted out: Market committee chairman

When asked, the Chairman of the Market Committee, Rajesh Gupta said “The work had been started to lay a large pipeline of sewerage to solve the problem. Apart from this, cleaning of sewerage is also being done daily. Now a pump will be used for this. All possible efforts were being made at his level to provide relief to the labourers to solve the problem as soon as possible.”