MAPUSA
Pathetic roads, garbage mess, lack of public utility service and the all-pervading stink exposes the miserable condition of Mapusa sub-yard, the wholesale market for fruits and vegetables in the city.
The Mapusa sub-yard, which is one of the biggest wholesale markets in the State, is maintained by Goa State Agricultural Marketing Board. Over 100 traders carry out business in the sub-yard.
The first thing that hits a customer once in is the messy and unhygienic condition inside the sub-yard. The scattered waste coupled with the stink leaves everyone entering the yard in a complete daze.
Since large amount of veggies and fruits enter into the yard every day, huge amount of green waste accumulates almost on a daily basis.
With no proper place for garbage disposal, many traders find the easy way out and dump the waste on land acquired for the new Mapusa bus-stand.
Several traders complained that the civic body fails to collect the waste on a daily basis, leaving the cattle to feast on leftovers and at times leaving the garbage to rot for days together.
Secondly, moving around the lanes inside the yard has become a pain with most roads having worn out and some even developing large potholes. In the monsoon, the condition of the potholed roads becomes even worse.
Many traders and at times even customers park their vehicles irregularly in the narrow lanes, making it difficult to move around.
Built around 30 years ago and having been exposed to the vagaries of nature, several shops in the yard have developed large cracks. In many others chunks of cement are falling off endangering the lives of the traders and customers alike.
"Chunks of cement pieces have been falling off from the ceiling of my shop. I have complained to the authorities several times, but to no avail," said Samimullah, a trader expecting no relief from the government.
The yard built on a sprawling area with over 100 traders and equal number of visitors has only one toilet facility.
With the toilet stationed at one side of the yard, many traders prefer to use the open space to relieve themselves.
Traders also complained that there was no proper public tap water facility in the yard. Similarly, street lighting was also poor, they said. "I have been doing business here for the last 20 years, but nothing has improved here," a fruit seller said.
Another trader informed that several complaints have been made to the Goa State Agricultural Marketing Board, but the government appears to be turning a deaf ear to their appeals.
Mapusa Municipal Council Chairperson, Rohan Kavlekar said the only way to resolve the garbage problem was to shift the sub-yard from the vicinity of the market.
"We will soon take a resolution to request the government to shift the sub-yard away from the market. We do not know the garbage dumped in the area is only from the sub-yard or from the market," he said.
Pathetic roads, garbage mess, lack of public utility service and the all-pervading stink exposes the miserable condition of Mapusa sub-yard, the wholesale market for fruits and vegetables in the city.
The Mapusa sub-yard, which is one of the biggest wholesale markets in the State, is maintained by Goa State Agricultural Marketing Board. Over 100 traders carry out business in the sub-yard.
The first thing that hits a customer once in is the messy and unhygienic condition inside the sub-yard. The scattered waste coupled with the stink leaves everyone entering the yard in a complete daze.
Since large amount of veggies and fruits enter into the yard every day, huge amount of green waste accumulates almost on a daily basis.
With no proper place for garbage disposal, many traders find the easy way out and dump the waste on land acquired for the new Mapusa bus-stand.
Several traders complained that the civic body fails to collect the waste on a daily basis, leaving the cattle to feast on leftovers and at times leaving the garbage to rot for days together.
Secondly, moving around the lanes inside the yard has become a pain with most roads having worn out and some even developing large potholes. In the monsoon, the condition of the potholed roads becomes even worse.
Many traders and at times even customers park their vehicles irregularly in the narrow lanes, making it difficult to move around.
Built around 30 years ago and having been exposed to the vagaries of nature, several shops in the yard have developed large cracks. In many others chunks of cement are falling off endangering the lives of the traders and customers alike.
"Chunks of cement pieces have been falling off from the ceiling of my shop. I have complained to the authorities several times, but to no avail," said Samimullah, a trader expecting no relief from the government.
The yard built on a sprawling area with over 100 traders and equal number of visitors has only one toilet facility.
With the toilet stationed at one side of the yard, many traders prefer to use the open space to relieve themselves.
Traders also complained that there was no proper public tap water facility in the yard. Similarly, street lighting was also poor, they said. "I have been doing business here for the last 20 years, but nothing has improved here," a fruit seller said.
Another trader informed that several complaints have been made to the Goa State Agricultural Marketing Board, but the government appears to be turning a deaf ear to their appeals.
Mapusa Municipal Council Chairperson, Rohan Kavlekar said the only way to resolve the garbage problem was to shift the sub-yard from the vicinity of the market.
"We will soon take a resolution to request the government to shift the sub-yard away from the market. We do not know the garbage dumped in the area is only from the sub-yard or from the market," he said.
