Curbs strain ties of grain traders & eateries’ owners in Pune

PUNE: The prolonged Covid restrictions have started showing signs of strained relationship between the restaurant/eatery owners and the wholesale grain merchants, supplying raw material to the former.
At least two prominent wholesale grain merchants from the Gultekdi Market Yard and the Satara Road have approached the Pune police’s crime branch with complaint applications stating that seven to eight restaurant/eatery owners had outstanding dues of Rs5 lakh to Rs10 lakh each since January/February last year despite an extended term. The grain merchants claimed that the eatery owners were consistently citing lack of business and earning source behind their inability to clear the dues.
No FIR has been registered yet, but assistant commissioner of police (crime) Surendra Deshmukh told TOI, “We shall conduct an inquiry before taking any decision on action. It’s a difficult situation for either party under the prevailing circumstances. We have asked the eateries to return the grains, if not used, to the merchants or to arrive at some consensus for now. The wholesalers are ready to take back the grains and other eatables (if in good condition) instead of money.”
Deshmukh said, “The wholesalers claimed that two restaurants had shut down their operations and sold their utensils, furniture, and other valuables but did not pay the dues of the wholesalers.”
One of the affected grain merchants told TOI, “A restaurant operator from Wanowrie ordered grains and other eatables from me in February last year. The restaurant is an old customer of mine and generally I give credit period of 90 days to my clients to pay me the bills. I gave him a grace period twice, but the operator failed to pay me.”
Ganesh Shetty, the president of the Pune Restaurants and Hoteliers Association, told TOI, “The dispute arose when the wholesalers refused to take back the unused raw material from the restaurant owners. Every restaurant buys bulk of raw material from the wholesalers on credit. The wholesalers provide credit only to those who are known to them.”
He said, “Last year, all restaurants and eateries remained closed for eight months during the lockdown and phased relaxation period. Some of them had used just a part of the raw material in their stock. The wholesalers could have easily taken back the remaining items and sold them, but they refused to do so in many cases. A fresh round of closure this year has only made the matters worse.”
Popatlal Ostwal, president, Poona Merchants Chamber, said, “The situation is very critical. The traders have delivered grains and eatables worth crores of rupees and restaurants and hotel operators have failed to make the payments in last one year. Even traders need money to survive. We hope the hotels and restaurants will start working soon and we shall get back our dues from them.”
A cafe owner, requesting anonymity, said he had to pay more than Rs2 lakh to different wholesalers. “They have not taken action against me as they know me well, but I am under a lot of stress due to this. I am planning to sell off my restaurant at whatever price I get and clear the dues once and for all,” he said.