No mandis, vendors crowd roads in Mohali

MOHALI: The decision of the Mohali administration to close down Apni Mandis in the district to prevent the community spread of Covid-19 has not gone down well with fruit and vegetable vendors. They are flouting social distancing norms by queuing up on roadsides near residential societies.
Such illegal mandis can be seen in sector 68, phases 2 and 11 as well as in Zirakpur.They are organised for three hours in the morning and three hours in the evening. Due to this, residents living in the vicinity fear community spread of Covid-19. They alleged that the administration is either unaware or deliberately overlooking their plight.
Rajiv Kumar, resident of a housing society in Sector 68 said, “Fruit and vegetable vendors have queued up along the road opposite our society near the law institute. They are not maintaining social distancing and neither do they wear masks or gloves. People also rush there to buy vegetables, leaving no space for vehicles. We fear that our area may face community spread.” Residents said they lodged a police complaint but police just turned up once and did not bother to check after that.
Similar complaints have been received from Zirakpur, where 60 to 70 vendors have parked their rehris along roadsides to sell vegetables and fruits. Area residents Jagtar Singh, Rohini Gupta, Mukul Gupta, Rajan Safri and Brejesh Chauhan highlighted the danger posed by these vendors, who are openly flouting social distancing norms. “Vendors do not leave an inch of space for vehicles to move on the road. Police is busy getting shops closed but they ignore illegal mandis.”
When apprised about the situation, Mohali deputy commissioner Girish Dayalan said, “Officials concerned have already been informed and orders have been issued to check and get them removed.”
However, the administration has also failed to remove fruit vendors from along state highways, who are posing a grave risk for high-speed vehicles. On highways, where maximum speed limit is 90 kmph, there is a threat of pile-up caused by vehicles suddenly stopping near fruit sellers.
Fruit sellers are selling there wares along highways passing through Mohali with impunity. Mohali-Kharar National Highway number 95 (NH-95) near Balongi, NH-21 on Zirakpur-Derabassi highway and the Kharar-Banur connecting highway near Mote Majra village are the most vulnerable to accidents. All the three roads are high-speed vehicle zones where both heavy and light transport vehicles ply.