Pkl's Sec 17 Market committee forms ‘task force' to keep premises clean
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Panchkula: Frustrated with persistent garbage dumps, unhygienic conditions, and presence of vagabonds in the Sector 17 market — and receiving little support from the Municipal Corporation — the local market committee has now taken matters into their own hands.
The committee has formed a dedicated 'task force' aimed at improving cleanliness and maintaining order in the area. A monthly contribution is now being collected from all shopkeepers, with funds earmarked being for sanitation and beautification efforts.
The first major step taken was the removal of a large garbage dump, created by private waste collectors. To deter further dumping, the committee installed warning boards, stating that violators will be fined Rs 5,000.
CCTV cameras have also been installed to monitor the area, and overgrown grass has been cleared to improve the market's appearance. Additionally, the market committee has approached the area's sanitation supervisor, urging strict action and challans against private collectors found dumping garbage illegally.
Sameer Singhal, a member of the committee and owner of a prominent store, said: "TOI's recent report on the condition of the market was a wake-up call for all of us.
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The market was covered in filth, and we decided to trace the source. It turned out that private garbage collectors had no designated disposal site, and were dumping waste here at night."
He added, "We cleared the waste, hired a night watchman to prevent further dumping, put up warning signs, and got labourers from the chowk to clean up the wild vegetation. Now, we're working on beautifying the market."
Another major concern addressed by the committee was the issue of vagabonds living in the open.
"Several families have taken shelter here... cooking, bathing, and defecating in the open. This contributed significantly to the unhygienic conditions. We've taken measures to ensure the market is no longer used as a shelter, and the overall sanitation has improved," Singhal added.
While Sector 17 has made commendable progress, similar conditions persist in various other markets, where garbage dumps behind shops and the presence of vagabonds remain common sights. The Municipal Corporation has largely failed to manage waste collection and dumping in markets' backside. However, the proactive steps taken by the Sector 17 market committee could serve as a model for other markets in Panchkula to emulate.
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