Vegetable traders go on strike over market fee

Karnal, February 10

Fruit and vegetable traders in Karnal city kept their shops closed today to protest the imposition of 2 per cent fee by the Haryana State Agricultural Marketing Board (HSAMB), which has affected the supply of fresh produce to various parts of the city and district.

Demand tax be scrapped

The traders have demanded that the government should scrap the tax, as residents and farmers are facing difficulties due to the strike

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They have warned that they will initiate an indefinite strike if their demands are not met.

The fruit and vegetable market wore a deserted look, leaving farmers and residents, who specially came there to sell and buy, agitated.

“I came here to purchase vegetables for a wedding. I was left with no choice but to purchase these from a retail market on higher rates,” said Nikhil, a resident of Indri.

Avtar Singh, an arhtiya of the Karnal mandi, said the previous government had exempted a four per cent fee — two per cent market fee and two per cent Haryana Rural Development Fund — in 2013, but the present government imposed two per cent tax around 3.5 years ago, causing resentment among traders. Despite assurances from the government to withdraw the same following protests in December, the tax is still being imposed.

The traders have demanded that the government should scrap the tax, as residents and farmers are facing difficulties due to the strike.