Knee-jerk reaction from civic administration has threatened to derail the vibrant vegetable markets in the city as on Friday it suspended permission for trading at five places barely a week after they started its functioning.

From Saturday again the city could face shortage of vegetables as the five places from where the traders, brokers, farmers, citizens used to make purchases would remain out of bounds and there are no other alternatives made.

The places where vegetable trading was suspended are Reshimbagh Ground under Hanuman Nagar Zone, Rajabaksha ground in Dhantoli zone, Cancer Hospital in Yashodhara Nagar under Ashinagar Zone, and Gadikhana ground near Model Mill Square in Gandhibagh Zone.

Besides the Budhwar Bazar that used to function in Somwarpeth in Hanuman Nagar Zone, too would be out of bounds for sale of vegetables.

Additional Commissioner Ram Joshi communicated the decision of NMC to Commissioner of Police Dr Bhushan Kumar Upadhyay so as to ensure that there is no trading activity at these five grounds. The enforcement of latest decision of civic body again rests on Nagpur City Police.

Earlier, Municipal Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe had ordered closure of Cotton Market and the adjoining complex till further orders on grounds that people are overcrowding and social distancing norms are being thrown to wind.

Despite submission from brokers and vendors, Mundhe did not consider it fit to permit vegetable trading at Cotton Market although the same with wide open space provides ample scope for controlled activity.

After closure of Cotton Market, Mundhe triumphantly unveiled strategy saying the civic body has decentralise vegetable market and granted permission at 24 grounds located across city at strategic points. NMC also highlighted of these decentralised places till the other day even though regular reports of overcrowding was pouring in.

But now that NMC has ordered closure of these five grounds the hasty planning of officials

seems to have boomeranged and same is bound to affect

movement of vegetables in many parts of the city.

Eventually Nagpurians are going to be at the receiving end during the lockdown period as vendors are going to pass on increased cost of procuring vegetables to buyers due to artificial shortage that is going to kick in due to latest decision of NMC.

While issuing orders to suspend sale of vegetables at these five places, NMC has yet not disclosed any alternate plans to ensure citizens are not held to ransom. The inability to enforce discipline in market places by civic administration is being blamed on vendors and traders but in the process the worst sufferer are going to be farmers who would suffer huge losses if they cannot unload the perishable commodities.

The administration has already put limitations on number of trucks allowed at Kalamna Market Yard which has already complicated the matters and put at stake several jobs of daily wagers.