DHAKA: Gabtali cattle market, the lone permanent cattle market in the city has turned into a death trap for lack of renovation and maintenance works.

The age old corrugated sheets of its nine tin-sheds stretching on 30 bighas of land are hanging all over the place in a dilapidated condition.

Locals said light rainfall causes knee-deep water as the drains of the market are choked up with the wastes. It takes 4 to 5 days to pump out the logged water.

Sources said there are 35 cleaners meant for cleaning wastes of the market. But wastes are not removed properly that causes trouble for the traders.

As per DCC rule, 45 per cent of the earned money of a market could be spent for its renovation and development and works for drainage and sanitation, tube well, roads, roofs or sheds of the markets should be a priority.

But the reality is different as such development never takes place.

The veterinary doctor of Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) Azmat Ali told banglanews24.com.bd that Gabtali cattle market has 50 bighas of land but it now controls only 30 bighas.

“Dirty and polluted water clogged inside the market also poses threat for complicated diseases of the cattle heads,” he said.’

When asked about the overall situation of the cattle market, DCC Mayor Sadek Hossain Khoka said a modernization project for the Gabtali cattle market has now been pending with the Ministry.

The Mayor said he asked the Chief Executive officer and the Chief Engineer to take care of the market. The officials visited the market last year, but they did not take any initiative to solve the problems.

BDST: 1700, JULY 22, 2010