PUNE: The Shri Chhatrapati Shivaji Market Yard Aadte Association has decided to suspend trading activities at the vegetable market till Sunday due to coronavirus outbreak. Following this, a few retailers have closed their shops. Some of them are operating and they do not expect any supply crunch in the coming days as there is enough stock and less demand in the market.
“There is enough stock with us and also due to coronavirus scare, not many people are visiting the market. Therefore, the demand is less. Hence, there will not be any shortage. However, some of the retailers have closed their shops,” Mohan Kudeche, a vegetable vendor in the Mahatma Phule Mandai said.
Another vegetable vendor Dnyaneshwar Vidhate also echoed the same sentiment and said that stock is available with retailers as there is a shortage of demand.
Ashutosh Sangle, a vegetable vendor who has closed his shops due to closure of Market Yard, said, “I have closed my shop for three days. It is unclear when I will resume my work.”
Shri Chhatrapati Shivaji Market Yard Aadte Association President Vilas Bhujbal said, “The vegetable market is closed for three days. Since PM Modi appealed to people to observe a ‘janata curfew’ on Sunday, and if the market remains open, then there will be a crowd. There will be no supply crunch in the next two days as demand has reduced from hotels and restaurants.”
Bhujbal said that the market will operate from Monday.
Maharashtra State Agricultural Marketing Board Director of Marketing Sunil Pawar has issued a directive stating that the essential commodity market will not be closed, including the agricultural produce markets.
APMC Pune Administrator BJ Deshmukh said, “Only the vegetable market at Market Yard will be closed as traders are scared, while the grains market continues to operate on Friday. It is closed on Saturday, which is the weekly off, while the ‘janata curfew’ will be observed on Sunday. Except for Market Yard, all other vegetable markets such as Pimpri, Khadki, Mulshi will remain open.”
Deshmukh also said that APMC will educate the entire market about disinfectants before the market starts from Monday.
NO SUPPLY CRUNCH
A few retailers have closed their shops but those who are operating do not expect any supply crunch in the coming days as there is enough stock and less demand in the market.