SWABI, Dec 12: Tonga owners have refused to shift to the Tehsil Municipal Administration's (TMA's) selected tonga stand, posing a serious threat to the people's health by spreading the horses' waste across the main bazaars.

The shifting of tongas from Swabi Chowk roads to the stand is the long-standing demand of the people because the horses' waste affect the edibles all around the chowk and other areas, causing various diseases.

Besides, when the tongas are parked in the narrow Maneri Road of Swabi Chowk it becomes very difficult for the pedestrians to pass through. The people and shopkeepers had often quarrelled with the tonga owners for removal of stand from there but to no effect.

The tonga owners said the commuters would never turn up to the TMA selected stand and instead would prefer to travel by pick-ups or buses. When asked by Dawn, an official at the TMA said on Saturday they could not take action against the tonga owners due to political compulsions.