Farmers Movement Archive

Day 1: Poor sale at Sector 17 mandi

Chandigarh, May 12Ensuring strict compliance with the Covid-19 management guidelines, the sale and purchase of fruit and vegetables commenced at the ISBT in Sector 17 today.85% stock remains unsoldOn shifting to the bus stand, several shopkeeper expressed happiness saying that they were at least now working under a shed, which was not available to them at the Sector 26 mandi.Traders could carry out only 15 per cent of the business on the first day of the opening of the mandi. A commission agent said nearly 85 per cent of the stock remained unsold today.As many as 168 fruit and vegetable traders from the Sector 26 mandi were asked to shift to the bus stand due to the proximity of the mandi with Bapu Dham Colony, which has been declared a containment zone due to the increase in the number of coronavirus cases. Most of the agents shifted to the bus stand yesterday and started the sale and purchase of fruit and vegetables this morning.An MC official said only authorised vendors were allowed to enter the market after a thorough screening.He said social distancing and other guidelines were being followed to provide safe and virus-free fruit and vegetables to residents of the city.On shifting to the bus stand, several shopkeeper expressed happiness saying that they were at least now working under a shed, which was not available to them at the Sector 26 mandi.A commission agent said there was hardly any sale on the first day, but it would pick pace in the coming days.Nishar Malik, who deals in fruit, said the Administration had done a good job by dividing the market into three zones.Now, fruit, vegetables and those selling items that can be stored like onions, potatoes and garlic were divided into separate zones accordingly to avoid crowding.In the absence of a canteen, farmers, commission agents and labourers, who reached the mandi in the wee hours, did not find anything to eat in the entire area, he said.KK Yadav, MC Commissioner, said that vegetable traders from Sector 26 had been moved to the ISBT, Sector 17.He said that the distribution of fruit and vegetables through CTU buses would continue for a few more days.Panic as suspected Covid patient reaches mandiPanic gripped the area when a suspected Covid-19 patient reached the mandi.A commission agent said that they were surprised how the person managed to enter the vegetable market when all exit and entry points were manned by the security forces.He said that the person was not even wearing a mask and he was shivering.The authorities were immediately informed and he was taken to a hospital for a medical examination.However, the report of his samples is yet to be received.

The Tribune

2020-05-13