Looking ugly and smelling dirty the municipal market in this tourist resort is making visitors squirm.
Located in the heart of town and covering about 4.5 acres, the market until a few decades ago was the pride of the town and one of the best of its kind in the State.
Very few are aware that the Ooty market, built in 1847-48, was one of the oldest organised markets.
Records reveal that the grain and meat markets were added in 1885. In 1893, stalls for English vegetables, fruit, poultry, eggs and fish were added. In 1903-04, sheds for sale of native vegetables were added. The market fee collected was the second highest in Madras Presidency.
For many years after it came into being, Tuesday was the market day when government offices were closed by noon to enable the staff to go to market.
With the conditions in the market now being a far cry from what they were for several decades, locals and tourists are forced to enter it with a great deal of reluctance.
Of late, the market has been frequently in the news with its vegetable vendors quarrelling with members of the farmers’ market alleging that the latter were not farmers but traders from the plains and their activities were affecting the transactions in the municipal market. Observers, including consumer activists, are of the view that the main contributory factor for business falling in the municipal market was that the conditions were not conducive for shopping there. The experience of shopping in the municipal market, which for long used to be enjoyable, was now detestable. Congestion has become the order of the day and encroachments are hampering movement.
Generally, some parts of the market are a health hazard and on rainy days the entire market becomes a health threat. Meat waste was being thrown on footpaths and roads with scant regard to sentiments and hygiene.
Repeated representations notwithstanding, the health authorities are turning a blind eye to the wanton violation of rules relating to disposal of waste.
With vans, jeeps, cars and two-wheelers freely moving on the narrow paths meant for pedestrians, the number of people patronising vegetable sellers on the pavements of the town has risen sharply.
With everyone asking who is to blame for the sorry state of affairs, members of the Ooty Municipality Merchants’ Association lament that amenities are inadequate.
Public conveniences were in an insanitary and deplorable state.
Water connections were insufficient and streetlights were not serving their purpose. Many of the gates and walkways were also damaged.
However, municipal sources said that traders were responsible for the market going downhill.
Many of the shopkeepers were paying a pittance by way of rent.
Despite repeated warnings, traders caused inconvenience to the shoppers by encroaching on public space.
