Mangaluru: Leader of the Opposition in the Mangaluru City Corporation Abdul Rauf on Tuesday, criticised the Corporation for closing the Central Market, a move that, according to him, resulted in a huge loss of income.
Speaking during a press meet at the Dakshina Kannada Congress Committee Hall, Mallikatta, Rauf said, “The MCC’s move to close the Central Market in March under the pretences of curbing the Covid-19 pandemic, resulted in the loss of income coming in from the traders. Because of this unplanned decision, nearly 400 traders and other labourers at the market had to face hardships and poverty.”
The traders and shop owners were forced to move to the APMC in Baikampady overnight. This resulted in the MCC losing around one crore rupees in income from the Central Market, he added.
Speaking further, he said that the MCC also built a few temporary sheds for the retailers near the Town Hall and Lady Goschen Hospital so that they could conduct their business. “However, the sheds proved to be unsuitable for fruits and vegetables during the monsoons. They were also unsafe due to the strong winds during thunderstorms. Thus, the traders stayed away from carrying out their business in these sheds. The MCC has been wasting the taxpayers’ money by paying rent for these temporary tents,” Rauf added.
Speaking about the time of the Congress’ rule in the MCC, Rauf said that the Corporation made the necessary arrangements for businesses before building the markets at Kadri, Urwa, Alake, Kankanady, Bejai, and Kavoor. “Look at the condition of the traders now that the BJP rule has pushed them on the streets. Some of these vendors are earning a living by working as street vendors,” he added.
Corporators A C Vinayaraj, Lancelot Pinto, Bhaskar K Moily, Praveen Chandra Alva, Shamshuddin, Anil Kumar, and others were present.
