MGR market traders seek new location

Coimbatore: Vegetable traders have urged the city corporation to provide an alternate location to resume their business at the earliest after the MGR wholesale market was shut down on Friday following three people testing positive for coronavirus.
If the corporation fails to provide them a new location, the retail price of vegetables could shoot up, traders cautioned.
Vegetables from several states including Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka are brought to the MGR market and sold to retailers at Anna market, TK market and Ramar Kovil market apart from selling it to neighbouring states.
A trader from the market said most traders did not want to stock vegetables anymore after the MGR market was shut. The vegetables that reached the city after Friday were distributed to retailers either at their shops or by retail sale on the roads, he said.
“As most retailers had purchased double the quantity of vegetables, there would not be any shortage for the vegetables in the city, at present. But demand for vegetables might occur if traders do not resume their business in a full-fledged manner for another week or so,” the trader said.
The trader said they might have to ask their dealers to stop sending them vegetables if the corporation delays providing an alternate location as they cannot continue selling vegetables on the roadside. Upon providing a new location, the corporation will have to create toilets and water facilities for traders too, he said.
G Irudayaraja, district president of confederation of traders’ association, said small traders and daily wage labourers, including load men, would be severely hit if a new market location is not finalised soon.
Meanwhile, a corporation source said the civic body is planning to shift the traders to the old dump yard ground at Kavundampalayam, but only after testing all traders.
Despite several attempts, corporation officials could not be reached for a comment.