Cheruthoni: The Cheruthoni market is in a sorry state of affairs as the slush and stones left by the gushing flood waters are yet to be cleared even 40 days after the great deluge.
The panchayat authorities are sleeping over repeated requests made by the businessman, who took the Vazhathoppu panchayat market on lease for Rs 8 lakh, to clear the debris at the earliest. He paid from his pocket to make the meat stalls conducive for business. Though the market has been partially opened after the floods, there are lack of facilities. The slaughter of more cattle is not possible in the market due to the lack of facilities to store meat, resulting in a drastic dip in meat sales.
A drizzle could trigger flow of mud and water into the market making it inaccessible for customers.
But the panchayat authorities informed that steps have been taken to clean the market premises. The engineering section has started work and the market area would be cleared of mud and stones this week itself, they added.
As the fish trading area has been washed away, many fish wholesale traders are in distress. More than 200 retailers come to Cheruthoni market to buy fish from wholesale traders.