Farmer organisations have accused the private contractor operating the parking lot at Vallah sabzi mandi of overcharging farmers and transporters, while also raising concerns over encroachments and poor infrastructure inside the market premises.
Members of the Vegetable Growers’ Association alleged that contractors were collecting parking charges higher than the approved rates from vehicles bringing vegetables and fruits to the market. They claimed that farmers, already struggling with rising input costs and fluctuating prices, were being subjected to unnecessary financial burden at the mandi.
Vegetable Growers’ Association leader Lakhbir Singh Nizampura said farmers visiting the mandi daily were facing harassment due to arbitrary charges imposed by parking contractors. He alleged that no proper rate list was displayed at several points and demanded strict monitoring by the market committee authorities.
Another farmers’ representative, Bhupinder Singh Tirathpur, said encroachments inside the mandi had reduced available space for unloading produce and vehicle movement. He added that poor sanitation, damaged internal roads, inadequate drainage and traffic congestion were compounding the difficulties faced by farmers and commission agents.
The farmer organisations have demanded immediate intervention by the mandi board and district administration to regulate parking charges, remove encroachments and improve civic amenities at the market.