Traders and brokers based in the city’s Kalamna market yard on Monday observed a day-long shutdown against the pathetic condition of the roads and drainage system in the Mirchi Bazaar area. More than 200 traders and brokers took part in the protest that disrupted trading activities in the Mirchi Bazaar for the whole day. Sensing trouble, the Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee (APMC) authorities including Sheikh Ahmed Bhai Karimbhai, Chairman of Nagpur APMC; Prakash Nagpure, Deputy Chairman; N P Yaglewad, Secretary; Prakash Wadhwani, Director; and other office-bearers reached the spot. The authorities also called police to control the agitators.

 

The traders and brokers alleged that the APMC, which runs the Kalamna market yard, is paying no heed to their demands of basic amenities in the market. The traders highlighted that the APMC authorities had consistently failed to address the issues related to repair of the broken drainage system, poor roads and broken sheds. “For the past many years, we have been demanding the APMC authorities to provide us these basic facilities but nothing has changed in the area,” said Mahesh Bante, President of The Nagpur Chili Merchants Welfare Association.

 

He further added that the problem of water logging and potholes on the internal roads is giving sleepless nights to traders, brokers and customers as well. “In monsoon, it becomes very difficult for us to reach our shops because of the muddy roads,” he pointed out. In the meanwhile, Sheikh Ahmed Bhai Karimbhai assured the agitators to take corrective steps at the earliest and urged them to open the market. The APMC officials said they would start repairing work of the drainage line within a week and initiate the process to construct the shed. As the protest was observed only in the Mirchi Bazaar area of the yard, trading activities in other parts of the Kalamna market were unaffected. Mirchi Bazaar is one of the oldest markets in the Kalamna market which started in the year 1986. It is a weekly market opens only on Mondays.