KOCHI: As a person enters the market located at the heart of the city his or her senses get blasted by the stench from the filth and waste dumped in the open spaces. The waste including meat, fish and vegetable refuse are being dumped in the open space in the centre of the market.
The filthy unhygienic condition prevalent in the Ernakulam Market poses a grave threat to the health and hence the life of the public. Already communicable diseases rule the roost in the area.
All this, however, could have been prevented if the bio gas plant, which was inaugurated half a decade ago, in the market had been functioning properly. The plant has been lying defunct for past few months. Also the flashlight here had stopped functioning 3 years back and this has been neither repaired nor replaced till date. Though the corporation had drawn up a master plan to revamp the market, as a step towards finding a permanent solution to the waste management system, it remains in the archives.
“This situation actually points to the disregard that the politicians, who renege on their promises of immediate actions, have for the people. We have yet to see any sort of development in the market. These politicians come with a bundle of offers, but do nothing good,” says Abubakar, a vendor at the market.
The unhygienic conditions prevailing in the market came to fore after some people found vendors selling fish amidst the filth. Sources also alleged that they have many times seen hotel agents sorting out items for their establishments from the garbage piles.
The area has been now converted into a common dumping yard where people from far off places offload wastes that include plastic, sanitary and food items. People are forced to do so due to insufficient waste management systems in the city.
Recently, the corporation had tried to clean the market, but the situation has gone back to being what it was. What takes the cake is that though the area is right under the nose of the office of the health inspector and the corporation nothing has been done as of now.
“The irresponsibility of the authorities is highlighted by the fact that the issue has gone out of control. They always turn blind whenever posed with such big problems and instead of finding a solution they recommend alternate solutions. We are destined to suffer,” said Latheef, an labourer in the market.
Customers are reluctant to come to the part of the market which is close to the garbage dump and this has led to a fall in the sales for many vendors.
If the state of the market gets worst, the day won’t be far when the city will be facing an outbreak of epidemics, since most of the goods are being transported from here.