Wholesale market cries for facilities

By our Staff Reporter
GUWAHATI, June 21: Pay a visit to the vegetable and fruit wholesale market at Pamohi in the Gorchuk area with the description of this reporter, if not yourself, physically. 
This is the market that was at Muchkhowa in city some five years back. It was shifted to this new site in 2012 in order to ease traffic congestion at Muchkhowa. The administration did cite the interests of people also as one of the reasons behind the shifting of the market at that time. Do the wholesale traders have the facilities they need for smooth conduct of their business at the new site?  Even after five years of their shifting to the new site, the market has no permanent sheds of its own. The traders have to do business under tents in all weathers. They have to bear the brunt of scorching heat as well as that of monsoon rains. The market looks like a collection of makeshift camps. Listen to Dhruba Pathak, the general secretary of the Vegetable and Fruit Wholesale Market Association, in his talks with this reporter.  Pathak said: “Each of the traders doing business here has to pay Rs 1,000 per month as rent. As many as 310 traders are doing business here. However, there is no facility for drinking water at the market. We continue to raise our demands before the government. However, our demands fall on deaf ears of powers that be at Dispur. We want identity cards for each and every trader from the government that should also provide us all facilities.”
Pathak said: “This market is alluring for a number of reasons. For, we’re the ones who procure vegetables and fruits directly from farmers. This is not all. This market has visitors (for marketing) from Barpeta, Kharupetia, Dhekiajuli, Meghalaya, West Bengal etc. It’s not for nothing that people from far-off places and others States come here to buy vegetables and fruits. However, the facilities at the market fall far short of matching importance the market deserves.”            
Pathak further said: “Responding to our demands, Assam Agricultural Marketing Board Chairman Palit Bora, vice chairman Manoj Baruah and other officials of the Board have had a meeting with the traders’ body. They’ve assured us of constructing Pamohi Bazar building.  When they’ll erect the building is something to be watched at.”  

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