Mangaluru: Many traders reopen shops in Central Market

Mangaluru: Many shopkeepers have reopened their shops in the city’s Central Market building and others are to follow soon. This comes after the High Court ordered in the favour of the traders here.

The traders had filed a petition in the High Court challenging the Dakshina Kannada district administration’s sudden closure of the market without any notification in the wake of the COVID-19 lockdown.

The City Corporation has allowed only those traders who possess a valid trade license to reopen their shops in the market as ordered by the High Court.

However, shops in the interior of the market are yet to open as the gates leading to them are still locked by the Corporation.

Additionally, water and electricity supply to the shops have not been resumed by the Corporation yet. Hence, on September 28, a delegation of traders sent a letter of appeal to the Corporation regarding it.

Meanwhile, Krishnaraja Hegde, president of the APMC yard at Baikampady has warned that fruit and vegetable traders from the Central Market shifted to the Baikampady APMC Yard since the past six months due to COVID-19 must not be running twin operations in the Market and the yard as per their wishes.

He added that APMC will reconsider the cases of such traders who are running their trade at both places. Traders will be granted godown space only after receiving the application form and fees as per the rules.

“According to the High Court order, only those traders who have official trade licenses in the Central Market should be allowed to trade. Already, we have informed the traders trading there to submit their paperwork. Some have done and we are checking the documents,” Deputy Commissioner Dr Rajendra KV said.