Connemara Market: Their lives still in ashes

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: It is the excruciating pain of being neglected that haunts the traders of Connemara Market, Palayam, than the loss they incurred in the massive fire that engulfed their shops. Exactly two months after the fire consumed 15 shops, the proposal to construct a modern shopping complex in place of the existing market has reached nowhere.Although discussions were held between the Corporation and the State Government, the proposal has not advanced much. Traders here feel they would miss out on the Onam sales, and a few have chosen not to wait for the Corporation. They have hastily rebuilt seven shops.The fire had broken out at 4 am on June 22, leaving 15 shops gutted. The very same day, an emergency meeting convened by Mayor K Chandrika announced that a facelift would be given to the 150-year-old Connemara Market by replacing it with a modern shopping complex on 8.51 acres owned by the Corporation and TRIDA. State Government-undertaking Infrastructures Kerala Ltd (INKEL) was to put forth a proposal. It was also announced that construction activities would begin at the existing market after properly rehabilitating the traders here.But two months later, the traders appear to be adjusting to the reality that nothing is likely to happen, even the much-awaited market promised by the Corporation.Meanwhile, Corporation officials maintain that they have performed their part by agreeing to hand over 1.80 acres of land held by the Corporation for the project. The project being based on equity participation is supposed to provide a steady income to the Corporation. The market value of the land will be equated as the amount deposited by the Corporation in the project.The Mayor said that the Corporation had already forwarded the proposal to the State Government. She brushed aside the allegation that Corporation had sidelined the project. "We had three meetings with the State Government on the issue. The ball is now in their court,’’ she said.The project is so vital to the development of the city. They  simply cannot sit over the file forever, she added.But the traders accused the Corporation of not being sincere in dealing with issues such as hygiene and safety in the market. The fish and meat markets were operating in unhygienic environs. Fish vendors, most of them women, have accused the Corporation of turning a blind eye towards their grievances, including the absence of toilets and urinals on the market premises.The merchants of the vegetable market also said they were prepared to shift their shops to the proposed market complex once the construction is over. "The merchants are aware that constructing a complex with adequate facilities can lessen their woes,” said S Sivan, president of the Kerala Vyapari Vyavasayi Ekopana Samithi, vegetable market unit.