Shirva: Weekly santhe markets in rural areas need to function smoothly in spacious, wide-open areas without any hindrances. However, the century-old weeklysanthe market held at Manchakal junction under the Shirva Gram Panchayat is currently riddled with numerous issues due to a complete lack of basic infrastructure.

The santhe market is held every Thursday in a spacious ground located adjacent to the Shirva-Belman main road. Santhe vendors lament that since local farmers and traders no longer participate extensively in large numbers, the plight of merchants who travel from various other districts to trade here goes completely unnoticed.

On market days, several vendors set up temporary stalls selling vegetables and fruits directly on the highway footpath, triggering severe vehicle parking issues. With both roads and footpaths occupied by traders, pedestrians are forced to walk in the middle of the busy road, risking their lives in dangerous traffic conditions.

Relocation of the weekly santhe

Several years ago, the Thursday market used to operate in the space between the Gram Panchayat building and the fish market. Due to the limited space available there, vendors used to spill over onto the main road, severely disrupting traffic flow. Realizing the inconvenience, the local administration shifted the market to its current spacious location. However, vendors and consumers are facing deep trouble due to the absolute lack of amenities in this new area.

Without a proper roof or permanent shelter in this region, traders are forced to rely on plastic tarpaulins to protect themselves from harsh sunlight, heavy winds, and rain. The monsoon brings the nightmare of stagnant water and thick mud, whereas the scorching heat and roadside dust during summer exhaust both buyers and traders. The local Gram Panchayat administration and elected representatives must look into this and take appropriate measures to rejuvenate the weekly market.

Key problems plaguing the market

• No permanent roof: The market area belonging to the Shirva Gram Panchayat does not have a permanent roof, ceiling, or shed. Vendors depend entirely on plastic tarpaulins to shield themselves from weather elements, which is not a permanent solution.
• Absence of toilets: There is no public toilet facility at the market ground. Women vendors and customers coming from distant places are facing severe hardship as they are forced to walk all the way to the distant Gram Panchayat office just to use the washroom.
• No drinking water facility: With no clean drinking water facility in the vicinity, traders and consumers have to fetch water from the bus stand or purchase bottled water from nearby commercial shops.
• Haphazard parking: Due to the lack of an organized parking slot, customers visiting the santhe park their vehicles haphazardly along the roadside instead of finding a spot further away. This causes severe traffic congestion for regular commuters moving along the main road.
• Traffic violations: A bus stand, tempo stand, and car stand are located very close to the market zone. Several motorists drive in the opposite direction against traffic rules. The police department needs to initiate strict action against one-way violators.
• Divider bottleneck: A road divider has been installed on the state highway, but almost half of the single lane is effectively occupied by parked vehicles. This significantly increases the risk of accidents, creating constant panic.

Spacious inner ground left unutilized

The current weekly santhe market venue has ample space inside its premises, but vendors are not making full use of it. Merchants park their goods transport vehicles at the back of the market ground and set up their stalls right beside the main road, causing parking constraints for customers. If the vendors move inside the designated zone specified by the local administration to conduct business, the bottlenecks can be entirely resolved.

Necessary steps to be taken

• Construction of a permanent iron-pillared sheet roof over the Gram Panchayat santhe ground to provide protection against sun and rain.

• Installation of a proper drainage network, followed by concrete flooring or interlock paving, to tackle the issues of summer dust and monsoon slush.

• Construction of separate public toilet blocks for men and women at the vacant space behind the market.

• Setting up a purified drinking water unit for the convenience of consumers and vendors.

As the Shirva Gram Panchayat limits host a high number of Non-Resident Indians (NRIs), the region is a frontrunner in banking, trade, and commercial transactions. This weekly santhe is not just a commercial hub but serves as a lifeline for people living in the surrounding villages. The local administration must take the initiative to transform this Thursday market into a model santhe.

Efforts underway to address issues

"With the rising demand to upgrade Shirva Gram Panchayat into a Town Panchayat, the necessity for a fully equipped santhe market has increased. The Panchayat general body had previously discussed a proposal to construct a comprehensive complex in this spacious land-housing the Panchayat administrative office, other government offices, and a community hall under one roof-with a well-equipped market on the ground floor. Since there is no elected body currently in place, a detailed discussion will be held with the next incoming board to mobilize funds and execute appropriate measures." - Ananth Padmanabha Nayak, Panchayat Development Officer (PDO), Shirva