Mahatma Fule Market forced to close within hour after reopening
   Date :02-Apr-2020

Mahatma Fule _1 &nbs
 
 
Business Bureau :
 
MAHATMA Fule Market (Cotton Market) which reopened on Wednesday after the closure for two days for sanitisation was forced to close within one hour as people congregated in huge numbers violating the rules of social distancing. Over 100 years old centrally located wholesale Mahatma Fule Market which is convenient for farmers, retailers as well as buyers was directed to down shutters on March 30 and March 31. The decision was taken by Tukaram Munde, Municipal Commissioner of NMC on March 29. The market which reopened on Wednesday was again closed within an hour. NMC has taken out circular directing farmers and vegetable vendors to carry out business at 24 different locations in the city.
 
Ram Mahajan, Secretary of The Mahatma Fule Vegetable and Fruit Adatiya Association said, “When the market was in full swing, all of a sudden, NMC authorities and Police stopped the trading activities.” He said, “NMC authorities has added to salt to the injury of farmers who bringing vegetables to the market. They had to sell vegetables by compromising the rates. Even there was no NMC official to guide them about the locations to sell their produce.”
 
He said that the authorities should take into consideration the plights of the poor peasants who are already reeling under the financial burden to climatic changes and now are facing the problem created due to coronavirus. “Nagpur city which is witnessing horizontal growth direly needs sub markets so that people get fresh vegetables near their dwelling units.
 
Before taking any steps, NMC should take farmers and Adatiyas into confidence,” he demanded. Madhukar Wankhede, a farmer from Ghorpad village in Kamptee Tehsil said, “I have to load my vehicle at 4 am in the morning and reach Mahatma Fule Market at 5 am. After selling the produce, we have to do our regular activities in our farm. We cannot wait till afternoon to sell our vegetables. Government is saying there will be smooth sale of vegetables and necessity items. On the contrary, the local authorities are behaving in a rude manner. No one is there to give ear to the problems of farmers.”