Fruit merchants down shutters in Koyambedu market

By Our Staff Reporter

CHENNAI, MARCH 28. The Koyambedu fruit market complex wore a deserted look, as shops downed shutters on Wednesday, protesting the ``indifferent attitude'' of the CMDA.

The daily labourers were affected as they lost the day's wage. Only a couple of fruit-laden lorries arrived at the market and it were not unloaded, said Mr. E.Duraisamy, Committee Member of the Association.

No official from the CMDA came to have a look at the place, alleged Mr. M. Jayakumar, another Committee Member. Traders from the flowers and vegetable markets expressed solidarity to the bandh.

Future course of action would be decided at a meeting of the traders and their associations to be organised shortly, Mr. S. Srinivasan, vice-president, Chennai Fruits Commission Agents' Association said.

On Tuesday evening, fruits were sold at high prices and most of the items were not available. Black grapes which was selling at Rs. 25 per kg was sold at Rs.50 said a buyer. Similar was the case with apple and `kamala' oranges.

When contacted, the CMDA sources said, it had been the usual practice of traders to park their lorries in the no-parking area every day and were prepared to pay the fine. In the last three months they had paid a fine to the tune of Rs.3 lakhs. Traders were putting pressure on the authorities to open the gate connecting the fruit and vegetable markets. If that gate was opened, encroachments would crop up, which would be difficult for the CMDA to remove later, the sources added.

Following the closure of shops, the quantity of garbage accumulated at the fruit market area was very less today. `Due to the bandh we are able to inhale a cleaner air', traders said.

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Section  : Southern States
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