Frequent fires at Sabzi Mandi

Garbage and encroachment remain the source of concern

ISLAMABAD: The illegal makeshift stalls of vendors at the parking area and improper disposal of garbage at the ‘Sabzi Mandi’ (wholesale fruit and vegetable market) are the major cause of fire outbreaks in the city.

The repeated incidents of fire eruption at the market have become a source of concern for everyone. The ‘master plan’ of Sabzi Mandi did not include makeshift arrangements, and not adhering to the original plan has led to such happenings.

The last incident of fire outbreak at the market was seen in October this year in which over three dozen stalls of vegetables were gutted. However, no loss of life or cases of injuries were reported. The fire broke out at the onion and potato stalls and rapidly engulfed other nearby stalls as well.

An incident of fire eruption at the wholesale market was also reported in May this year. A massive fire erupted on the eve of Eid, and gusty winds fanned the misery that turned hundreds of shops, warehouses and trading points into ashes. It was estimated that the incident had caused damages to the tune of millions of rupees. No loss of life was reported then as well, but traders believe that they escaped death by a whisker as it was the annual break for them due to religious offerings.

The President Fruit Association, Tahir Ayub told this scribe that after the two incidents of fire outbreaks this year, more disasters cannot be ruled out as the situation remains precarious in the market.

“Besides removing encroachments, there is a need to dispose of garbage properly to avoid such incidents in future,” he added.

The market produces piles of garbage daily, and there is a need for its proper disposal at the Sangjani point which is the earmarked dumping yard for the Sabzi Mandi in Islamabad. However, instead of collecting the garbage regularly to dump it at the proper site, it is littered at nearby places which leads to incidents of fire eruption.

Responding to a question, Ayub said that traders had been raising the issue of encroachment at various platforms but it remained unresolved. He apprised that the market committee is responsible for the proper disposal of garbage in the area.

He apprised that some 150 daily wage workers have been employed by the committee whose sole responsibility is to remove encroachments from the area. But, on the contrary, the shoppers often complain about encroachments in the reserved parking spaces. He alleged that the market committee has failed to do their job and provide a conducive environment to traders.

Ayub said that in most cases, the encroacher reappears after the anti-encroachment drive ends. “A few years back, SSP Asmatullah Junejo had removed all the encroachments from the market by effectively using the traffic personnel,” he stated. Meanwhile, an official of the market committee requesting anonymity disclosed that the wooden crates of fruits and vegetables are one of the major sources of fire incidents. The secretary market committee, despite several calls, could not be reached for comments.