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KARACHI, July 25: All open spaces in the new Sabzi Mandi, including lands reserved for a fire station and weighbridge, have disappeared due to unauthorised encroachments, which have been allowed by the market committee in sheer violation of the rules and the approved plan of the vegetable market.
All parking places reserved in the model project financed by the Asian Development Bank sheds causing have given way to inconvenience to visitors and customers.
Despite protests by old allottees and appeals to the governor, chief minister and the National Accountability Bureau, the market committee, disregarding the ombudsman’s report, did not pay any heed to the grievances of its stake-holders.
As a result, the new Sabzi Mandi, within six years of its shifting from the old location on University Road, has turned into a stinking place and the encroachments have negated the very purpose of the project, which was to give the city a model fruit and vegetable market.
The Malir Wholesale Fresh Fruits Merchants and Growers’ Association has renewed its appeal to the new chief of NAB to initiate action on the reference sent to the bureau six years ago by the then provincial ombudsman against officials of the market committee who were involved in corruption.
The president of the association, Mohammad Javed, said that even after making full payment of the cost for providing basic amenities of power, water supply and maintenance to the market committee, the facilities were non-existent and people had to purchase water.
He also repeated the demand for transferring the management of the Sabzi Mandi to the city district government to comply with the SLGO 2001, as all other vegetable and fruit markets in the province were under the control of the local governments.
