But before embarking on this huge expense it is expedient that the entire walls of the market which are stained with various coloured spittle be cleaned thoroughly. This could be a tough job as these stains will be resistant to any chemicals, being caked on the walls for years together.
In spite of the CCTV, people who are habituated to continuous spitting will be hard nuts to crack and again the walls will get stained. Spittoons though out-dated worldwide may help contain this spitting disease.
Another solution for this could be laying of granite up to 6 feet on the walls from the ground level as done in the railway stations in Mumbai city. It is easier to wash off repeat stains. But this will be a huge expense which it is doubtful CCP can shoulder with its perennial lack of funds.
The tourist season is already upon us and bus loads of foreign tourists will be brought to visit our once beautiful City market. What impression of our culture and cleanliness standards will it give them when they look at the filthy market walls and floors, garbage piles lying everywhere, cobwebs covering all open spaces above the vendors, all passages blocked with merchandise preventing free movement?
In a way it is fascinating and a great experience for the foreign tourists to see various tropical types of fruits, vegetables and other produce and be able to buy them at perhaps one fifth of the price they would have to pay back in their own countries.
Once CCTV is installed the authorities need to be vigilant on every front, monitor non-permitted and illegal activities and penalise offenders very heavily. Sale and consumption of betel leaves too needs to be banned to deter spitting.
Also badly required are dustbins on the upper floor of the market so that visitors do not litter everywhere. All of us need to have pangs of conscience when we carelessly and in a selfish manner contribute to the dirt and ugliness around us. We can display our true love for our country not by creating slogans and making ostentatious display of taking the broom in front of the media and camera but by having a sincere desire to keep our environment clean on all fronts and thus leave a good footprint for posterity.
