The polluted environment and unhygienic conditions at the federal capital’s only fruit and vegetable market in I-11 Sector, commonly known as Sabzi Mandi, are causing environmental and health problems for both the buyers and the sellers.
A visit to the Sabzi Mandi on Wednesday showed the slackness of the departments concerned, which were responsible for cleanliness, security, parking and price control.
The whole market, which is almost spread over the sector, was filled with garbage, rotten vegetables and fruits emitting odour.
“There is no proper mechanism for keeping the market clean, despite the fact that the civic authority has hired a number of employees for the purpose,” said Mazhar Abbass, who visits the market twice a week to purchase fruits and vegetables.
He said stall and push-cart holders had even occupied the main road which caused problems for both the motorists and the pedestrians. The officials of the department concerned took no pains to remove them, he added.
Another buyer, Ishaq Khan complained that the price lists were not displayed by the vendors, who charged prices of their own liking.
Brawls between the sellers and the purchasers were a routine matter, he added.
About security arrangements, the District Administration had time and again instructed the in charge at the police station to ensure foolproof arrangements by installing walk-through gates for the security of people.
However, only one or two policemen were deployed for a few days and they too disappeared when the dust had settled.
“I have not seen even a single policeman deployed for security although a police station has been set up at the corner of Sabzi Mandi,” Ejaz ul Haq, a resident of the nearby I-10 Sector pointed out.
People were of the view that the authorities concerned should take a serious look into the state of affairs of the fruit market and resolve all the problems on a priority basis.
When contacted, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) officials said that they were striving hard to improve security and cleanliness conditions at the market.