The wholesale vegetable market at Gnanapuram has remained closed for the second day on Monday following the objection raised by merchants against construction of four sheds on the premises.
According to Wholesale Vegetable Merchants Association, four sheds were constructed on Wednesday by a trader as he was given site in lieu of shops lost at Ramnagar.
Association secretary K. Veerraju said with police presence the four sheds were constructed in a few hours and eight persons were taken into preventive custody for protesting and released later.
‘Unloading hassles’He told reporters that the space near the main gate on which the new sheds were constructed was being used for parking. With 30 to 40 lorries bringing vegetables from various parts of the State and other States it would be difficult to take up unloading without that space.
The very functioning of the market that had 64 shops and supported a thousand persons including hamalis, drivers etc., would be affected, Mr. Veerraju said. The market observed a bandh on Saturday and continued it on Monday and it would affect supplies to Navy, Defence, big hotels and to the 12 Rytu Bazaars, he said. He alleged the construction was also not justified as the issue was in court. The issue was taken to the notice of municipal officials.
Mr. Veerraju said the shops could be constructed at the other places available in the yard but not where it would affect so many people.
Hamalis’ protestLabour Union secretary S. N. Raju said hamalis were prepared to pull down a rest room abutting the new sheds but would not return to work even if traders opened shop unless the new sheds were removed.
