Grain market traders to go on strike from today

Chandigarh, October 15

Members of the Grain Market Association have decided to observe an indefinite strike from tomorrow in protest against implementation of arbitrary parking tender at the Sector 26 mandi area.

The UT Administration began a paid parking facility at the Sector 26 grain market, despite traders’ stiff resistance here today.

The 24-hour operational parking lot with 15 parking sites has been allotted on a contract of Rs2.21 crore. Also, CCTV cameras have been installed at the market to keep a tab on every incoming vehicle, especially on loading and unloading trucks.

The Grain Market Association president, Ram Karan Gupta, said due to the Covid 19 pandemic businesses were already suffering huge losses. The Agriculture Market Committee did not agree to association’s suggestion to lower parking rates, he added. The market committee’s decision to levy five times higher parking fee would put additional burden on customers, he said. Members of the Fruit and Vegetable Market Association would join the indefinite protest from Saturday, he added.

Chandigarh Beopar Mandal chairman Chiranjeev Singh said the two-hour limit for single entry of vehicles was unjust. — TNS