Sector 26 Vegetable market grapples with rampant encroachment

The vegetable market in Sector 26 is grappling with a serious issue of encroachment, causing a detrimental impact on the market’s atmosphere. Unfortunately, the situation persists as the market committee officials have shown a lack of attention to this growing problem. Encroachments are rampant, with street vendors occupying every corner and street, turning the market into a chaotic space. The gravity of the situation is highlighted by the fact that even the police line operates shops in front of gate number 1, potentially causing difficulties for the Reserve Police during emergency operations.

Despite the market committee’s responsibility to address encroachments, the security staff, funded by lakhs of rupees monthly, seems unable to curb the issue effectively. The market committee officials are pointing fingers at Municipal Corporation and Estate Office officials for not taking adequate measures.

Furthermore, court orders to remove illegal encroachments have not been adhered to, exacerbating the problem. The High Court had issued specific directives to the Chandigarh administration, but these orders have gone unheeded, leading to a continued increase in encroachments.

The encroachment extends up to 10 feet outside shops, obstructing the movement of customers and causing inconvenience. The market’s overall appearance is marred by tents and illegal structures, casting doubt on the accuracy of reports submitted by the Sector-26 Market Committee officials to higher authorities.

The issue of fee theft and manipulation is not new, as evidenced by the 2016 case involving 10 supervisors and auction recorders booked for market fee manipulation. The lack of action against illegal occupation of the auction platform and the presence of unlicensed individuals operating in the market compounds the problem.
In an attempt to curb fee evasion, a retired session judge had proposed practical suggestions in 2016, including the installation of barriers at entries and exits, surveillance cameras, and transparent boxes for record-keeping. However, these recommendations remain unimplemented.

The Agriculture Secretary’s recent visit underscores the severity of the issue, with instructions given to the Market Committee officer to prevent encroachments and maintain cleanliness. The responsibility of removing encroachments from the booths lies with the estate office, emphasizing the need for collaboration between various authorities.
In conclusion, the Sector-26 vegetable market is facing a critical encroachment problem that demands immediate attention and coordinated efforts from the market committee, Municipal Corporation, Estate Office officials, and law enforcement agencies. Failure to address this issue not only compromises the market’s functionality but also leads to substantial financial losses for the Chandigarh administration.