Vegetable markets turn into garbage dumps

Warangal: Heaps of garbage at every nook and corner, plastic bags thrown on the road, unplanned vehicles parking on either sides of the road are the daily scenes, which the regular customers has to face at vegetable markets in Warangal.

The unhygienic conditions existing at various vegetable markets in Kumarpally, Balasamudram, Kazipet and Warangal are posing health problems to the people living in surrounding areas.

Customers face inconvenience from the foul smell and flies from waste and rotten vegetables thrown by the vegetable sellers and other wastage in market. The irregular parking blocks the roads making the customers to walk very cautiously.

Surendar, resident of Kumarpally market area said ‘I live very near to the market. The officials are doing nothing to change the unhygienic conditions existing for several years.’ He said that he has to visit the market daily for vegetables sine there was no other option.

‘Even though I come by walk I am facing problems with this regular traffic jam and most of my time is wasted,’ he complained. ‘The children are the worst effected since they follow their parents to the markets. The foul smell emitting from waste dumping attract flies and germs which may show impact on children’s health,’ observed Poosa Kishore, government teacher in Warangal.

Lakshmi, a vegetable vendor at Balasamudram vegetable market felt it is the responsibility of every shop-owner to keep their surroundings clean and tidy. She said a few of them were taking extra care in keeping the surroundings clean so customers will get fresh vegetables. Despite ban imposed on usage of plastic bags, they were freely used in almost all vegetable markets in the city.

The vegetable vendors are continuing to use plastic bags even though they fully aware of health hazards due to plastic bags. Ramesh, member of a NGO, said they have been conducting awareness programmes against the usage of plastic bags. The public were repeatedly requested to stop usage of plastic bags which are contributing to pollution and are responsible for creating ecological imbalance.

But it is the duty of the administration to take action against vegetable vendors and shop owners, who are selling plastic bags, Ramesh said. Sanitary Inspector Ranjith informed that they will conduct regular checking including surprise inspection on vegetable markets. The staff was directed to remove the wastage dumped in the markets and also the vegetable vendors and others were warned not to dump rotten vegetables and other waste material in the market area which lead to unhygienic conditions.

‘We directed some of our employees to keep a watch on shops and vendors selling plastic bags and seize the bags immediately if they come across any along with giving strict instructions to the vegetable vendors for keeping their surroundings clean and tidy,’ he added.