THE Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC) Nagpur, Kalamna Market Yard has issued a notice dated July 26, 2023 to all the commission agents, traders, farmers and general public that it will be charging entry fee on large and small vehicles coming in the marketyard from August 1. According to the notice, APMC Nagpur will be charging a daily entry fee of Rs 10 and monthly fee of Rs 250 on large vehicles and daily entry fee of Rs 5 and monthly fee of Rs 100 on small vehicles, respectively. Kanda Batata Bazar Aditya Welfare Association President Gaurav Harde had demanded the APMC Nagpur to withdraw the new rule immediately as it will discourage farmers from bringing their agriculture produce to the Kalamna Market Yard. At present the agents are operating on lower volumes than normal, he said.

 

Before passing such a notice the APMC Nagpur should have consulted commission agent and traders associations operating in Kalamna Market Yard. In this regard, the association has sent a letter demanding the withdrawal of the entry fee which is being imposed from August 1. He threatened, “If the demands are not met all the commission agents and traders will go on strike in protest of the entry fee”. Talking to a senior APMC official on the condition of anonymity, said that the entry fee clause is included in the by-laws of the APMC Act, but had not be implemented till now. This rule is being implemented to maintain the inward and outward vehicle information, and other relevant details which are not being properly maintained. APMC has awarded the responsibility to a third party on contract basis, he said without sharing the details of tendering process or name of the third party.