Purana Pul market disposing of waste into Musi

Purana Pul : The hawkers operating on the city’s oldest bridge – Purana Pul – market dispose of organic and inorganic waste into the Musi river adding to the increasing pollutants of the river body. Bags of onions other waste could be seen choking the flow of the waters and encouraging swamping of all kinds of stray animals below the bridge.

The Purana Pul, one of the oldest surviving bridges of Qutb Shahi dynasty was built to connect southern part of the city to the north about 400 years ago. But the bridge now acts as a local vegetable market, where people mostly living in the vicinity buy their daily needs.

However, there is no mechanism to dispose of the waste at the end of the day. The hawkers find it easy to dump to waste directly into the Musi river which is already known for high pollution levels. If one sees below the bridge where the market is situated, the river Musi is inundated with wastage like bags of onion, lemons, coconut and ice apple shells and vegetable waste. Even the top of the bridge is filled with wastage of the same mostly coconut and ice apple shells.

Md Murtuza, a resident near Purana Pul said that this oldest bridge and landmark has slowly turned into a garbage street, not only above the bridge but also below it. This has added to the pollution levels, as the rotten vegetables and fruits are thrown in the river thereby choking the flowing waters.

“The stagnation has increased and providing breeding grounds for flies and mosquitoes which could have caused the spread of diseases in the area. Several warnings have been given to hawkers, but they pay no heed. I hope authorities will act tough on this and provide some direction for disposing-off the waste,” he said.

The market located at the corner of the bridge has remained functional for the last 70 years. Officially the stalls were given permission about 40 years back. At first the government charged the hawkers, but for some time they continue their business for free.

N Jaggu 52, a second generation hawker on the bridge selling fruits and vegetables, said that with government permission about 150 stalls operate on the bridge selling vegetables, fruits, clothes, utensils and many more. He also said that due to increased traffic the bridge has been closed on the other side.

Jaggu said that another reason besides pollution that could damage is the growing shrubs on the sidewalls risking the decaying of the oldest bridge. “The bridge is being damaged by trees growing on the walls and also the cracks appearing in the sidewall which could weaken the structure,” he said.

BY M M Farooqui