Shopkeepers raise concerns over poor sanitation in Gole market park

Ludhiana: Shopkeepers from Gole Market have once again raised serious concerns about poor sanitation condition in a public park in the market area. In a letter to the municipal commissioner and the mayor, the shopkeepers rued that their complaint is pending in Punjab State Human Rights Commission, but still officials are not taking their issues seriously.The president of Model Town Market Welfare Society, Daljeet Singh Takkar, said, "This park in the market was meant for the leisure activities for senior citizens, children and other people, but now nobody comes here. No gardener is coming. This park is in a very bad condition, there is filth everywhere, even the footpaths are broken." He said there is terrible filth inside and outside the park. Stray dogs keep roaming in the park and spread filth everywhere, he added.The vice president of the association, Bhagwindwerpal Singh, said a washroom is located in the park, but there's always a foul smell inside it. "This park is full of rats too," he added. Another member, Arvind Sharma, said the horticulture department had handed over the park to the association for maintenance, but they did not pay attention to its development. He said the shopkeepers cannot develop it from their funds. "A hearing in Human Rights Commission is due in in June, we are hopeful of a solution," he added.