The Chennai Koyembedu market was sealed off on May 5 after the Corona became a ‘hot spot’. Following this, all the fruit shops operating there were shifted to the Madhavaram bus stand. The wholesale vegetable market was shifted to Tirumalisai. Similarly, the flower market was shifted to Vanagaram.
The wholesale vegetable shops were shifted back to koyembedu from September 28 last year due to curfew relaxation. However, only wholesale fruit and flower shops remained unchanged for the koyembedu market. Chief Minister Edappadi Palanisamy yesterday announced that after about 6 months due to pressure from fruit vendors and curfew relaxation, wholesale fruit stalls in the koyembedu market will reopen from today (Monday).
Following this, the fruit vendors and the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) took steps to open the koyembedu Fruit Market. Accordingly, the areas where the wholesale fruit stalls are located in the koyembedu market were sprayed with disinfectant by giant machines. In addition, cleaning and renovation work was carried out rapidly.
Chennai Fruit Commission Agency Association Chairman Srinivasan said, “After several rounds of negotiations, the wholesalers have been given permission to operate in the koyembedu market again on the 2nd (today). It gives me so much pleasure. We are coming back to the koyembedu market after about 6 months. We will wear a mask and use disinfectants to prevent the spread of corona disease as per the guidelines issued by the government ”he said.
Fruits were brought to the koyembedu market in lorries from 9 pm last night as the fruit stalls opened today. They are sold to retailers today. Meanwhile, D. Rajasekaran, president of the Federation of All Associations of the Periyar Vegetable Store, has demanded that florists be allowed to open in the Koyembedu market.
He also demanded that the government provide Rs 10 lakh each to the families of the traders killed by the corona.
