New veggie market is unhygienic place

Unhygienic conditions worsened by the monsoon rains are plaguing the new vegetable market that NMMC has set up behind Vashi bus depot to shift the vendors of sector 9 market.

The new market on top of a nullah faces waterlogging, foul smell, mosquitoes and other problems leading to complaints by vendors and residents who find purchasing vegetables from such unhygienic area repulsive.

The new market was set up in July after the vendors were cleared from the road at sector 9 market, where they had been operating for years.

The hawkers are complaining that they have to sit amidst sludge, water and garbage in the area. They also have to shut their business and run for shelter when it starts to pour.

Sanjay Gupta, a vendor, said: “There is a huge nullah flowing to the holding pond. There is a strong stench emanating here always. There is also waterlogging which is leading to breeding of mosquitoes. It has hit our business hard.”

Mandakini Patil, another vendor, said: “There is no facility for us here, no sheds, no toilets, no drinking water. We seem to have been simply dumped here by the civic authorities.”

A civic official said, “We are aware of the issue and will take steps to correct the situation.”