MGR wholesale market reopened

Coimbatore: The MGR wholesale market in the city was reopened and allowed to function on Tuesday to ensure an uninterrupted supply of vegetables to the public during the week-long intense lockdown. The market would function as per government guidelines within the permitted time limit of 6am to noon.
Speaking to reporters after inspecting at the market, city corporation commissioner P Kumaravel Pandian said that he had asked the traders to procure vegetables/fruits from other districts/states to ensure uninterrupted supply.
The vegetables and fruits are sold through 165 private vehicles belonging to traders and 70 corporation-owned vehicles with the help of farmers’ markets in the city limit, he said, adding that they have been taking all the steps to prevent price rise. The corporation has set a target of operating about 500 to 600 vehicles within the city limits. While passes have been issued to 400-odd vegetable traders, some apartments have made their own arrangements and readied about 30 to 35 vehicles. In total, more than 500 vehicles are being operated to sell vegetables to the public, he said.
Pointing out that the passes to traders to do mobile sales are given at the zonal offices of the corporation, Kumaravel Pandian said that they have also decided to distribute passes to both vehicles and pushcarts at the MGR wholesale market.
A trader from the market said, “As the government had asked us to close the market, we had not placed fresh orders on Sunday and Monday and as a result, we had managed to provide only half the required quantity. After the corporation permitted us to reopen the market, we have placed our regular orders. The corporation officials have asked us to sell vegetables to the local vehicles before sending it to Kerala.”
President of Coimbatore TK Market Anaithu Motha Vyabarigal Sangam M Rajendran said, “We have decided to sell vegetables for the lowest possible price for the next few days.”
While speaking about the Covid-19 situation in the city, the commissioner said that they have been doing focused testing at multiple places, taking all steps to further increase the number of samples tested in a day and reduce the positivity rate.
He said they had intensified the door-to-door survey.