Plea to provide basic infrastructure facilities at Central Vegetable Market in Mattuthavani

The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Monday directed Assistant Commissioner (Zone 2) of Madurai corporation to inspect and submit a report to a public interest litigation that sought a direction to authorities to provide basic infrastructure facilities at the Central Vegetable Market in Mattuthavani in Madurai.

A Division Bench of Justices C.V. Karthikeyan and R. Sakthivel was hearing the petition filed by N Chinnamayan, president of MGR Central Market All Traders Association, Mattuthavani.

The petitioner said the Central Vegetable Market in Mattuthavani was one of the largest wholesale vegetable markets in Tamil Nadu. Unfortunately, due to prolonged administrative apathy and lack of maintenance, it has become unsafe, unhygienic and hazardous, seriously affecting the health, livelihood and safety of the citizens.

He said the internal tar roads inside the market were laid more than a decade ago and have not been repaired. Garbage generated in the market was not removed regularly and the waste remained accumulated for several days causing unbearable foul smell and unhygienic conditions. Garbage collected from outside was also being dumped within market premises, he alleged.

He said such indiscriminate dumping resulted in breeding of flies, mosquitoes, worms, rodents and other disease-causing organisms and posed a serious threat to public health. The underground drainage and sewerage system in the market was damaged due to lack of maintenance, he said, adding that the market lacked adequate public toilets despite being visited by thousands of people every day.

He said over 20,000 people and hundreds of commercial vehicles enter and exit the market every day. However, there were no proper parking facilities or vehicle management measures. The absence of parking space results in severe traffic congestion and obstructs the free movement of goods and emergency vehicles, he said.

The petitioner sought a direction to the authorities to relay the damaged internal roads with adequate pathways for free movement of vehicles and pedestrians, establish two additional approach pathways towards South K.K. Nagar and the western side of the market, provide proper underground drainage and sewerage facilities, create adequate parking facilities, and provide all other basic infrastructure facilities.

The court adjourned the hearing in the case to August 3.