HYDERABAD, Aug 23: Sanitary conditions have worsened in the Sabzi Mandi of the Latifabad taluka with the storm water drain passing through the market has been overflowing for a couple of days.

Though water has started receding, sanitation problems being faced by businessmen remain unresolved.

Around 400 to 500 vehicles, including trucks and pick-ups, enter and leave the market the work of loding and unloding good has almost stopped because of prevailing sanitary conditions in the area.

The Taluka Municipal Administration (TMA) Latifabad and the market committee which are locked in a row over collection of the market committee fee, are neglecting the problem of the market which has no proper sewerage or drainage system.

Fruit and vegetables dealers said they had installed a machine, given by the market committee, but when they had started draining the stagnant water out, it started overflowing from the line and entered the adjacent localities.

A few days ago angry residents approached dealers and get release of water into the drain stopped.

“Whenever it rain, we are in difficult situation because we cannot dispose of water in the drain as it starts overflowing to pose serious problems to us. This situation hits our business as neither dealers nor vehicles could easily enter the Mandi,” said president of the Hyderabad Onion, Potato and Vegetable Commission Agents Group, Altaf Memon.

He attributed this sewerage problem to encroachment on drain’s passage by a petrol pump set-up two years ago. “The TMA charges parking fees at an average of Rs15 to Rs20 from each vehicle entering the Mandi, but spends nothing on its improvement. We are paying fees to the market committee but the situation remains the same,” he said.

A portion of drain’s wall collapsed a few days ago and sewerage water entered Nusrat Colony, Gaddi Para etc., as well as Sabzi Mandi, posing serious civic problems. However, the TMA made some makeshift arrangements near the damaged portion to control situation.

“We are in fact selling diseases to buyers in the Sabzi Mandi. I believe if sanitary conditions are improved, there will be a marked decline in the ratio of diseases. The government should earmark a good amount for the Sabzi Mandi for its improvement,” said Javed Ahmed, a member of the commission agents’ group executive committee.

“We are despatching vegetables to Punjab. As a result of accumulation of rainwater, fruits and vegetables are lying on the ground under highly polluted environment. This situation could lead to serious health risks to consumers in the Mandi, spread over an area of seven acre and established in 1978.

Taluka Municipal Officer (TMO) Abdul Majeed Rajput told Dawn: “We have the right to collect the market committee fee because the Mandi was set up by the municipal corporation. The parking fee was imposed as far back as 2001 because vehicles carrying goods also parked outside the Mandi.”

He said the level of drain had started depleting and situation would improve, adding that for any small or major work, dealers of the Mandi always approached the TMA.

He said its was because of the market committee’s financial interest, they did not approached the Sindh government in the light of high court’s decision. The TMA Latifabad had pursued the matter with the provincial local government department, but resolution of the dispute was still pending as per court orders.