Mangaluru: The Central Market Marukatte Vyaparasthara Sangha (R) and New Central Market Shop Owners Association (R) have urged the district administration to relocate them to the Central Market building in Hampankatta till a proper aleternative arrangement is made.
At present these vendors are functioning from the APMC yard premises in Baikampady and this premises lacks even basic facilities, complain the vendors.
Speaking to mediapersons, association president Mustafa Kunhi informed that in the pretext of maintaining social distancing, wholesale dealers of fruits and vegetables were shifted to APMC yard in Baikampady, saying that the whole Central Market area was congested.
However, APMC yard lacks basic facilities and maintaining social distancing is no at all possible there. Hence, a decision should be taken immediately to relocate both wholesale dealers and retailers to Central Market building in Hampankatta.
Mustafa Kunhi informed that though measures were taken to shift wholesale dealers and retailers, many electronic and garment shops at the Central Market area are still running their business there.
“No measures were taken to shift them. Why have only we been sent here?,” he questioned.
Meanwhile, he urged the district administration to release a compensation of Rs 50 lakh for the businessmen who lost their vegetables and fruits at APMC yard, during the recent rain.
“As there was no alternative arrangements to keep the things safely, the businessesmen were forced to incur heavy loss. Hence, district administration should release compensation. Besides that all wholesale dealers and retailers should be allowed to do their business in Central Market building only, until proper alternative arrangements are made. The construction work of new Central Market building should be taken up only after the proper arrangements are provided to us,” he stressed.
It may be recalled that the vegetable and fruit wholesalers and retailers were all asked to shift to APMC yard by the district administration, which said that the old Central Market building will be pulled down soon.
The vendors who shifted to APMC were left in lurch when untimely rains lashed the region and the rainwater gushed into their shops leaving all their stocks spoilt.
