Traders Say “We’ll Start Operate Business at Mluru Central Market on 9 June”, while Mangaluru City Corporation Officials (MCC) say ‘We’ll Not allow It?’. Let’s wait and see the outcome tomorrow, Tuesday, 9 June 2020
Mangaluru : Recalling the issue, when Covid-19 lockdown kicked in, due to congested space at the Mangaluru central Market resulting in social distancing, and also due to the plans of MCC to demolish the existing Central Market in order to give way for a state-of-the-art Central Market, the wholesale merchants were forced to shift their business to Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC) in Baikampady on 8 April 2020. But ever since then, the traders doing their business at APMC had faced lots of hurdles and inconveniences due to inadequate facilities etc.- and they had faced lots of losses due to recent heavy rains. The traders had approached MP Nalin Kumar Kateel, MLC Vedavyas Kamath, DC Ms Sindhu Roopesh, MCC Mayor, and other district admin authorities in this regard, but had no positive results.
Therefore as the lockdown has been lifted on 8 June 2020, the traders have decided to come back to their original place of business at the Mangaluru Central market in the City, and start operating their business as of tomorrow, 9 June 2020. During a press meet held at Mangaluru Press club, the President of Central Market Merchants association, M Mustafa Kunhi said, “Citing social distancing at Mangaluru Central market the district admin and MCC made us to shift our businesses to APMC Yard in Baikampady on 8 April 2020, and we readily agreed for it. And it was also MCC’s plan to make us move out of our original place in order to construct a new central market building with enough facility for parking”
“But once we started our business at APMC we had faced various issues, right from lack of facilities, and many other issues. We faced huge losses during the recent heavy rainfall, and even after our complaints to the concerned authorities, MP, MLA and others, we never got good results out of it. Now that lockdown restrictions have been eased down, we have decided to start our businesses back at our original location at the Mangaluru Central market as of 9 June 2020. When District admin and MCC asked us to move on 8 April 2020 due to lack of space at the original market citing social distancing we had agreed, but we didn’t get a proper place to do our business at APMC, where we faced lots of hurdles. As the High Court has issued a stay order in domoshing the original market, and also shifting of the market, we will face the MCC officials in this regard and start our businesses back at Mangaluru Central Market, as of 9 June, and we have the full rights to commence our business here, no matter what” added Kunhi.
When Team Mangalorean contacted Deputy Commissioner of the Mangaluru City Corporation Dr Santhosh Kumar, he said, “When the traders themselves had approached the High Court and had brought a stay order on the demolishing of the old Central market, how can they all of a sudden decide to occupy their original business places and start operating their businesses. For two reasons we had made the traders to shift from Mangaluru Central market to APMC, was for-1) due to lack of place during the lockdown due to social distancing, and also the building was not safe any more to do business; and 2) we have plans to demolish the old building in order to give way for a state-of-the-art new central market. He said that the high court has not issued any stay order. But the decision of the traders to shift from APMC back to the original central market will ask for controversy and also violation of court order. We will inform the police not to allow them to start their business here in the City tomorrow. And if they still go against it, we will take legal action in the Court”
We will have to wait and see what will be the outcome tomorrow, when the traders go against the Court Order and start their business at the old Mangaluru Central Market. More on this issue check our website on 9 June for up-date.
Janardhan Salian and AJ Shekhar-the Secretary and Vice President respectively of the Traders Association, Manamohan Jois- the lawyer representing the association, and Ganesh Anchan, a merchant were present on the dais during the press meet
Also Read Related articles:
Chaos & No Social Distancing Seen Even Now at Central Market Operating at APMC Yard -Baikampady
Loss of Veggies/Fruits due to Poor Sales & Lack of Facilities at APMC Yard- Vendors may Halt Trade