PUDUCHERRRY: The Madagadipet cattle market, one of the oldest in this part of the region, is craving for basic facilities.
Located on a two-acre plot in the Madagadipet commune panchayat, the market is 22 km (11 km from Villupuram) away from Puducherry.
The market, known for dealing with selling and buying of cattle, came into existence during the French rule. It attracted people involved in the trade from places like Coimbatore, Pollachi, Vellore, Erode, Salem, Vandavasi and even from Bangalore. Also, it attracted the buyers and sellers from Cuddalore, Villupuram and Tindivanam.
Held every Tuesday, transactions in the market are made in the traditional way of making a ‘pucca’ deal by putting a towel over the hands of the seller and the buyer. The market, comes under the commune panchayat and also sells fruit, vegetables and meat.
Despite the fact that hundreds of people continue to converge on the place, the commune panchayat did little to provide basic amenities like shelter for cattle, resting places for people coming from far away places, safe drinking water and toilets.
One of the regulars to the market, Jayapal said the authorities were not taking any steps to provide basic amenities like drinking water and toilets. He added that the market, which witnesses a lot of activity from 6 am to 8 pm every Tuesday, does not have proper shelter for the cattle, which are brought here for sale.
Market contractor Thangaraj said the commune panchayat was getting a revenue of more than `14 lakh a year, but was not spending anything to improve the market.
As the market does not have proper lighting, people face threats from anti-socials as well, one of the sellers said.