CMMA firm on reopening wholesale trade at Central Market from June 9

MANGALURU: The Central Market Merchants’ Association (CMMA) has announced its intent to recommence wholesale trade at the central market in Mangaluru from June 9. The association has 151 wholesale merchants and 337 retailers who until the lockdown functioned from this premise in the heart of the city.
Mangaluru City Corporation directed the merchants to shift their activity to APMC yard at Baikampady citing lack of space to ensure social distancing at the market.
M Mustafa Kunhi, president of the association said wholesale merchants shifted their trade to the yard bereft that was of any facilities on April 8 respecting a directive from commissioner, MCC whose initial order stated this was a temporary measure in wake of the pandemic. With initial lockdown announced on March 25 getting lifted with unlock 1.0 on June 8, wholesalers like other trades should be permitted to return to the central market, he said.
The merchants in the interim had challenged a directive from the commissioner that the central market will be demolished for it is in a dilapidated condition and the state high court granted a stay to this move, Manamohana Jois, legal advisor for the association said. The MCC officials are spreading a bogey of contempt of court if the wholesalers resume their activities, he said, adding MCC had no locus standi in directing the merchants to shift trade to the yard.
“Central Market is a sub-yard of APMC yard, and this is clear as per the APMC notification of July 19, 2008,” Jois said, adding, MCC was out of its jurisdiction in ordering the closure and shifting of the sub-yard. The association has intimated their decision to shift business back to the central market to all authorities concerned, the advocate said adding the MCC that collected trade license fees from the merchants should provide facilities to them at the market.