KOHAT: The traders of the government fruit and vegetable market here have denounced the grant of no objection certificate to the private market by the tehsil municipal administration, saying the step would ruin their investments worth millions of rupees.

In a statement issued here the other day, Fayyaz Afridi, the president of the government fruit market traders’ association, claimed that according to the law two markets could not coexist in the same district.

He said by granting the NOC to the private market the TMA had reneged on its own stand that two fruit markets could not function in one district.

He accused the TMA officials of giving permission to the private market through an underhand deal.

He said the private market had had been operating illegally since 2010 as its owner was an influential person and had connections.

Mr Afridi resented that the TMA had selected the site for the government market miles away from the city, whereas that of private market was in close proximity to the urban area.

Separately, the grand businessmen alliance has demanded of the district administration to allow them to use three feet area in front of their shops instead of the demarcated 2.5 feet.

A statement issued here on Sunday said the demand was made by members of the alliance during a meeting with assistant commissioner Atif Jalib.

The businessmen also demanded launch of cleanliness drive in the bazaars.

The alliance’s chairman Ameer Khan Afridi led the delegation.

Earlier, the alliance’s leaders also met with tehsil municipal officer Mohammad Shoeb to urge him to ensure removal of garbage from the streets and roads.

Mr Shoeb informed the traders that a project of beautification of bazaars was in the pipeline.

He said electricity poles would be relocated to ensure smooth traffic flow on the city roads.

Meanwhile, former Shahpur union council nazim Malik Qadir Khan has demanded repair of a dilapidated bridge on a stream in Bandajaat locality.

In a statement, he feared that the bridge constructed in 1985 could collapse during flash floods.

Mr Qadir also appealed to district police officer Sohail Khalid to order checking of vehicles and people entering the Shahpur area.

Published in Dawn, October 11th, 2021