An autorickshaw driver bought a treadmill, a refrigerator, and a television (all in working condition) for Rs. 10,000.
He was among the hundreds of people who thronged Krishna Mills Godown, near Mani Higher Secondary School, in the city well ahead of the beginning of the jumble sale that started at 8 a.m. on Sunday.
Organised by the Inner Wheel Club of Coimbatore, proceedings of the sale will be used to clean the inlets to River Noyyal and get them ready for the monsoon showers. The sale was also aimed at benefiting the buyers from the economically weaker sections who were offered heavy discounts for the products.
President of the club Prachi Kikani said the idea behind contributing for the upkeep of the river sparked when their members were on a one-day tour to Noyyal, Siruvani and Western Ghats organised by representatives of Siruthuli. “Plastic carry bags and wastes were all over the inlets. It hindered flow of water into the river and is affecting water supply in Coimbatore,” she said.
About the sale, she said that preparations began six months ago and materials were collected mainly from their members.
A member even donated a pink Contessa car, which was not brought to the jumble sale venue.
Items for sale included toys, travel bags and suitcases, musical instruments, lockers, electronic gadgets, vacuum cleaners, music players, televisions, scanners, iron boxes – office and house furniture, dresses and decorative items, shoes and slippers, paintings and books.
Materials for the sale were brought to the venue (that was provided free of cost) about a month ago. They were segregated and labelled till Saturday.
By 10.30 on Sunday morning a major share of the items were sold out.
All the leftover articles was taken by a scrap dealer after the sale closed at 5 p.m.
Seventy-five-year-old L. Krishnamoorthi and his wife C. Rajeshwari (72) were among volunteers who have taken an active part in other jumble sales as well. They helped the organisers collect materials and prepare it for the sale. “It is good to be part of a noble cause,” Mr. Krishnamoorthi said.
