Pulwama fruit, vegetable traders stage protest, demand opening of Mandi
Pulwama: Pulwama fruit and vegetable Mandi traders on Thursday staged a protest outside fruit and Vegetable Mandi Prichoo and demanded opening of Mandi as the same has remained shut since 05 August 2019.
The traders assembled outside the main gate of the Mandi and demanded that they should be allowed to resume work at an earliest.
They said that are running in losses from last one year as the Mandi is completely shut since then and the traders operating from the mandi have been left penniless as their earnings have suffered a tremendous blow.
“We have been waiting from last one year for the reopening of Mandi but the administration is not allowing us to open it,” said one of the trader.
“We have been hit badly from last one year due to losses as all other Mandis in Kashmir are working and those dependent on them have been able to earn something to feed their families,” added another worried trader.
“We were expecting that the district administration Pulwama will reopen the Mandi and issue guidelines on how to follow COVID-19 standard operation procedures (SOPs),” they said, adding that didn’t happen due to which we are suffering.
“We shall follow the Covid-19 SOPs while dealing with the growers and merchants from other states,” said the traders while requesting the district administration Pulwama to let the mandi open.
The traders alleged that all other mandies in various areas of south Kashmir are operating and only the mandi at Pulwama is not being allowed to operate.
“We request the Deputy Commissioner Pulwama to kindly look into the matter and on humanitarian ground let the mandi operate so that the traders start work again.
Jahangeer Ganaie
