The fruit merchants, who were displaced from Kothapet Fruit Market two years ago, are remain in a dilemma over shifting their trade base to Pahadi Shareef as no rudimentary arrangements were provided so far at the new location while the summer season, also considered as business season, is around the corner.
The fruit merchants and agents were performing business at Kothapet Fruit Market for decades but the government came-up with an idea to shift it to a more spacious location at Batasingaram a few years back which the traders said is not appropriate enough to perform the trade.
Unhappy over the place being provided by the government at Batasingaram, most of the merchants have approached the Telangana State Wakf Board (TSWB) for provision of a suitable place to perform the business. Upon knowing the suffering and hardships of the fruit agents and traders, the wakf board leased out 12 acres of land at Mamidipally village near Pahadi Shareef in Rangareddy district.
Merely a stone throw away from Pahadi Shareef Police Station, a sprawling space of 12 acres was allocated to the fruit merchants who were displaced after the government shifted the Kothapet Fruit Market to Batasingaram two years ago.
However, the new market area at Mamidipally was yet to see all the rudimentary arrangements like proper parking and toilets while the summer season is around the corner. Soon after handing over the land, the business activities swung into action at Mamidipally with immediate effects where traders were seen performing business even before the rudimentary arrangements like shades, proper parking area and toilets were provided.
It is said that there are over 125 licensed merchants who were displaced due to governments’ move and not gradually shifting their business to new locations at Mamidipalli.
“The traders are living through the hardships ever since they were displaced from Kothapet Fruit Market. Now when another spell of business in summer season is approaching fast, they are remain in a dilemma over shifting of place to perform the business as new market at Mamidipally too was not yet fully furnished with facilities like parking, proper shades and toilets for the traders, labourers and the fruit commission agents,” informed a trader at Mamidipally.
Two steel shades barely two hundred meters long were found erected on the new site where few of the traders began their business activities. Kinnu, apples, sweet lime and a few other fruit varieties were brought to the market by a few of the merchants while a big number of traders were absent on Thursday.
“Out of over 125 licence traders, only 20-25 were so far turned towards new location at Mamidipally to perform the business while others are yet to take their call. We are hopeful that other traders and fruit agents too will join us soon,” added another merchant.
Meanwhile, the wakf activist Syed Iftekhar Hussaini found fault with the way the 12 acres of wakf land was allotted to a private fruit merchant association by the Telangana State Wakf Board (TSWB). Filing an RTI, he sought all necessary details pertaining to land allotment and resolutions being passed by the board before clearing the lease.
“The whole thing was done behind closed doors unmind of the damage to the interest of the wakf,” he blamed adding that “For the first time, the land was allotted to a private association for setting up of a fruit market which was completely against the very purpose of the wakf act.
More so, he said, the fruit market is being formed without the supervision of the Agricultural Department as was witnessed in case of other markets.
“In the absence of proper supervision, the private fruit merchants will rule the roost at the new market as there was no supervision from the government side. Who will take responsibility if the fruits being brought to the new market will be put to sale without proper safety measures and regulations,” he rued.
