Bakrid three days away, goat market ground waterlogged

LUCKNOW: Even though Eidul-Azha or Bakrid is just three days away, the Bakra Mandi ground in Chowk is still not ready for goat traders to set shops and is heavily waterlogged. Traders said they there is hardly any place to tie their goats.

When TOI visited the ground on Gomti banks on Saturday it found waterlogging at several spots. Traders were standing by the side of the road leading to the ground. Locals who live nearby said that in last 10 days, the river overflowed four times due to heavy downpour and caused waist-deep waterlogging.

Due to the poor ground condition, traders of exotic breed goats have stayed away. Every year, around 10,000 goat traders come to Mehndi Ghat behind clock tower to sell their locals and exotic breed goats. But this year, hardly 100 traders have arrived with nearly 500 goats.

“Every year, I sell around 100 goats of exotic breeds. This year, I came with just five goats after hearing about the condition here. There is no space to sit or stand,” said Mohd Laeeq, a goat trader from Malihabad.

“I brought 50 goats but there is no place or shelter. I have decided to go back,” said Ram Roopak Yadav.

People coming to buy goats were disappointed on not finding one of their choice. “I came to buy a pair of Alwar goats but there is not a single goat of the breed,” said Sirajuddin Ansari.

Besides, rumours of the market having shifted to IIM road are also causing confusion.

ADM (west) Santosh Kumar Vaish said, “We deployed suction pumps to flush out the water and there is no waterlogging now. If water level rises again, the mandi will be shifted to clock tower road.”