Chennai: After a gap of five months, the shops at the wholesale foodgrains section, reopened at the Koyambedu market complex on Thursday, with many restrictions to ensure safety against COVID-19.
It has been announced that the vegetables and flowers markets will be reopened on September 28.
The Koyambedu market was a hotspot for the deadly coronavirus in May after which it was closed. After the unlock 4 announced, 60% of the food grain market reopened here.
The Koyambedu Market Management Committee (MMC) has put in place several restrictions for the market to operate, including entry and exit from only Poonamallee High Road, and a limited number of customers to visit each shop at a time. Foodgrains merchants and workers have been given identity cards and two-wheelers have restricted entry into the market.
Earlier, the market was closed after many COVID positive cases were reported throughout the state who has business links with the Koyambedu market.
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As a result, initially, more than 90 people, including retailers, workers and customers from many districts, were confirmed to have contracted the Covid-19 epidemic, from this market complex which sprawls over 300 acres. The government is engaged in a wartime effort to trace those who have been in contact with the affected.
Although the market opens up after 135 days it appears that it will take quite a few days before the woes of traders and workers recede.
Speaking to ETV Bharat, Vickramaraja, President of a consortium of Tamil Nadu traders associations, said, "The food grain market has been reopened after a long time. It has ensured anticipation and happiness as well. We plead with the government to open the fruit and the semi-wholesale markets along with the vegetable market on the September 28 instant. Rentals for the six months must be waived for the traders who can meet the commitment. Monetary compensation should be extended to the kin of the traders who lost their lives due to the corona infection."
Traders express grief at the fact that the market has been locked down for the past five months, causing damage to the food commodities financial loss to the tune of lakhs of rupees due to rodent and cockroach infestation, and that they are left without any cash on hand.
Although the market opens up after a lapse of 135 days it appears that it will take quite a few days before the woes of traders and workers recede.
“Many a life has been lost among the trading community due to the pandemic. We have appealed to the government to compensate for the loss with a purse of ten lakhs to each family. This market has been reopened as a forerunner. All traders should compulsorily wear face masks. Visiting traders and customers should be permitted to enter only after wearing masks. Several guidelines have been laid including use of sanitizers. These health hygiene measures should be followed even as the vegetable and fruit markets are to be opened next. All markets in Chennai and other places like Coimbatore, Nellai, Trichy are still held in open areas other than the usual marketplaces," Vickramaraja told ETV Bharat.
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