Daily operations at Kichha mandi include fruit, grain, fish and vegetable markets, drawing a substantial flow of farmers and vendors. The current state of sanitation is cited as a major disruption to routine activities and a source of discomfort for those who rely on the market.
Blocked drains have caused waterlogging in parts of the complex, and the broken streets within the mandi flood during rains, compounding the hygiene challenge. Traders say complaints to the market administration have not yielded noticeable improvements. They are pressing for regular cleaning, grass cutting, drainage clearance and reliable water disposal arrangements.
There are unconfirmed claims that several Uttarakhand mandis outsource cleaning to a single contractor with payments amounting to a sizable sum, though independent verification is pending. Traders insist on monitoring the quality of work and the expenditure on cleaning.
