It is more than a year old, but the Vellore Corporation’s V.O.C. market complex meant for street vendors at Dharapadavedu does not have many takers. A section of vendors said the shops were too small for them to do business.
Officials of the Vellore Corporation said the shops had already been allotted for the vendors but were not aware that majority of the shops were unoccupied.
The complex at Dharapadavedu has 24 shops built at a cost of Rs. 18.50 lakh. Nearly 10 to 15 vendors sell vegetables, fruits and flowers behind the complex . Except for one or two shops, the remaining have not been occupied by vendors. Some of them use the shops only to keep pots and bags.
One of the vendors, who has been selling vegetables for nearly 35 years, said six of them were allotted shops. “But we prefer to remain in the open area as the shops are too small for us. Where is the space to spread all the vegetables? So, we have not occupied the shops,” she said.
Another vendor alleged that though they were allotted the shops, they were being asked to pay money. “We were asked to pay Rs. 5,000 each for the shops by elected representatives in addition to the rent. We have to pay more if we want gates for the safety of the shops. We prefer to sit under the shade and sell vegetables. There is direct sunlight on the shops, and we do not want to move in,” she said.
However, another vendor said work to erect gates was going on at the shops, and that she would occupy the shop once the work was completed.
The vendors were asked to occupy the shops but they said they were comfortable in the open market, according to a former local body representative. “We told them twice to move to the shops but they are refusing to do so,” he said.
