Till the lock down finishes, fruits and flower traders in Chennai to keep their shops shut
Posted on: 30/Apr/2020 10:40:23 AM
The temporary market set up at Madhavaram bus stand for the fruits and flower traders had no facility or safety. The traders would keep their shops shut until the lock down gets over instead of moving to Madhavaram bus stand.
As many as 6 vendors in the Koyambedu market complex tested positive for Corona virus is known now. Point is there could be more who would have got affected with Corona virus. This was mentioned by some traders. There were more than 1 lakh visitors at the market just a day before four days lock down began.
According to Mr. S. Mookandi, secretary of Koyambedu Flowers Merchant’s Association, more than 3000 flower vendors would have to shift from Koyambedu to Madhavaram. He explained about the lack of security for the belongings like weighing machines etc in Madhavaram and how instead of opposing GO the traders have decided to close their shops till 3rd May 2020. He then threw light on the loss faced by the traders in the lock down time and how here are no options available now other than shutting down the shops.
Mr. S. Dhanasekar, secretary, Vegetable, Fruits and Flower Merchant`s Association was of the view that not opening the shops would result in huge losses. He highlighted that life is more important than the business. Till the lock down ends, all the shops would be closed. He concluded that Corona virus testing should be done on all the vendors as more number of Corona virus cases present in the market.
It has been revealed by a vendor at Koyambedu wholesale market that retailers have been allotted space to sell vegetables at Madhavaram bus stand and at Kelambakkam but they were unwilling to shift. He added that the sales of vegetables were poor in the lock down period and how travelling to far off places like Madhavaram and Kelambakkam would not be easy.
