Eating amidst stink and garbage at Sector 15 market

CHANDIGARH: Whether you are a student or a Chandigarh resident and frequently visit Sector 15 market's dhabas (eating joints) for food, it's time to rethink.
The area around the row of dhabas that are located on the rear side of the market raise a stink that has developed distaste among the visitors. A large puddle of stagnant sewerage water, infested with garbage, solid waste and animal feacal matter has taken over almost half road of the lane and made dining here an appalling sight.
Moreover, composition of the stagnant water has given rise to foul odour that has become a dominant stench in the air surrounding the dhabas, which has invariably made even standing in the area rather difficult. "We find it difficult to cook or serve food. The smell is gut wrenching and just by looking at the stagnant water, I feel like vomiting. Due to the stagnant water, mosquitoes and flies have rather increased. They sit on the dirty water and they on the food that we make," said a worker employed with one of the dhabas, on condition of anonymity.
A regular visitor to the market Priaynka Singh said, "I am student of Panjab University and live in a PG accommodation in Sector 15. I have been coming to eat at the dhabas here for over two years now. But now I sometimes order food or eat somewhere else due to filthy conditions near these eating joints. I understand that ordering food is expensive and the dhabas are more affordable, but nothing is more important than health."
Choking up of the drainage system, which has been happening quite regularly at this spot for several months now, is one of the reason for the mess, allege the dhaba owners. Apart from the lack of cleanliness and proper disposal of garbage, the drainage system here is vulnerable to the activity of scores of big rats that often dug internal walls of the drainage. This results in choking of the narrow sewer line every now and then. The sewer lines are, thus, left ridden with sand, cement powder and solid waste particles among other impediments.
When asked about dealing with the issue of stagnant water lining the pavement and better part of the road, the dhaba owners claimed to clean it to the best of their abilities with the help of wipers, buckets among others, but to no avail.