Monsoon rains leave Mattuthavani flower market waterlogged

Madurai: Recent monsoon showers have left the Mattuthavani flower market waterlogged and muddy, forcing vendors and customers to navigate slush and stagnant water amid complaints of poor maintenance.Visitors to the market, known for the globally renowned Madurai Malli, struggled to move through muddy stretches and rainwater-filled puddles on Sunday after rains lashed the city on Friday and Saturday. Vendors said the waterlogging persisted for days, affecting business and causing inconvenience to shoppers, including tourists.“The jasmine flowers sold here received the prestigious Geographical Indication (GI) tag nearly 13 years ago and are a source of pride for the city.

Yet, the market itself receives little support. Even waste clearance is not carried out regularly,” said Muthupandi, a vendor.He urged the Madurai Corporation to deploy vehicles to remove mud and stagnant water after rainfall and improve the market’s infrastructure.A senior corporation official said sanitation work was reduced over the weekend and that workers would be sent to clean the market this week.“Many areas require additional support from the corporation during the monsoon,” the official said, adding that plans were under way to deploy sanitation workers and vehicles on a zonal basis to improve cleaning operations.