Ludhiana: Nearly a decade after being developed as a model facility for clean trade, the Modern Fish Market on Tajpur Road is grappling with severe sanitation and maintenance issues, prompting traders to seek urgent intervention from the Punjab Mandi Board and market authorities.Clogged sewer lines, accumulated garbage, irregular cleaning, and a deteriorating building structure have become persistent challenges across the nearly three-acre complex, which houses 32 wholesale shops alongside a retail section.Market association president Hapreet Singh attributed the unhygienic conditions to a severe shortage of sanitation workers. “At least eight to 10 people are required to maintain cleanliness in the market, but only three workers are available. The drains are cleaned only occasionally, sometimes just once a month. As a result, the drainage system, both inside and outside the market, frequently gets clogged,” he said.Association chairperson Gurpreet Singh echoed the demand for additional manpower, stating that three workers cannot maintain such a large facility. He added that the association has been repeatedly seeking adequate staff and better maintenance arrangements to resolve the recurring problems affecting both the wholesale and retail sections.Beyond sanitation, structural decay is also affecting daily operations. Shop owners pointed out that portions of the shed have developed holes and several tiles require immediate replacement, demanding urgent renovation of the premises.Visitors echoed the traders’ concerns over the state of the facility. “Although such infrastructure is built, but lack of cleanliness is defeating its purpose,” said Amar Chand, a customer at the market.Built as a pilot project with financial assistance from the National Fisheries Development Board and the Punjab Mandi Board, the market was originally designed with separate wholesale and retail sections, toilet blocks, water facilities, and an effluent treatment plant to ensure an organised trading environment. Traders are now urging authorities to deploy more sanitation staff, enforce regular drain cleaning and waste lifting, and undertake structural repairs.
