The Sonepat grain market lacks basic amenities

The Sonepat grain market lacks basic amenities even as the purchase of Rabi crops is about to commence. The government agencies will begin purchasing mustard on March 28 and wheat on April 1 in accordance with the timetable that was made public for the acquisition of rabi crops.

But the Lehrara village’s major grain market, which is located on the Rohtak road, is in poor shape.

Rabi harvests are set to arrive at the mandi, according to grain market arhtiya Sanjay Verma. As a matter of fact, mustard has begun to arrive. On the other hand, the procurement preparations are moving slowly.

He said, “On one side of the road, the marketing board has just done some patch work.” He said, “All water harvesting and sewage tanks are lying open without any lid.”

A shed’s terrible state led to its declaration as unusable. Leakage during rainy seasons is an issue in other sheds as well. According to Verma, Arhtiyas has filed a formal complaint with the marketing department in this respect under the association’s name, but to no effect.

He said, “The majority of the thefts are being carried out from there because the boundary wall at the back has been broken for many years.” Verma said, “We have brought up this issue with the authorities on multiple occasions, but it hasn’t been resolved yet.”

The grain market was not prepared for the government purchase, according to Praveen Kumar, a former press secretary of the grain market association, since throughout the season, product spilled up to the major roadways.

He said that there were broken roads, a front floor, and shared sheds. He said that the grain market lacks sufficient lighting arrangements and restrooms for female workers.

At the entrance gate, there is just one male restroom. There is no specific plan in place for the 400–500 women laborers who work during crop procurement at the grain market, he added.

He claimed that since the wall of the grain market was damaged, there were no adequate security measures in place. He said that while the concerns have been brought up several times, the authorities have not taken any notice.

Jyoti Mor, secretary of the marketing board, refuted all the accusations, saying that all preparations were underway and the grain market was ready for purchase. She said they had fixed up the shed. She continued, saying that the shattered walls will be rebuilt and that the request had already been sent to headquarters for budget approval.

She added that independent platforms had been fixed. The secretary insisted that after consulting with the authorities of the engineering wing, a new restroom would also be built.