Newly constructed foodgrain market hit by identity crisis

C Shivakumar

Chennai:

Could the newly opened Rs 69 crore market for food grain in Koyambedu
be technically termed as market?



This is one of the issues which is plaguing the officials of Chennai
Metropolitan Development Authority as the market built to decongest
and shift the wholesale activities of foodgrain trade from George Town
area is not serving the purpose for what it was built.



It is learnt through official sources that the declaration of the
market area for foodgrain under the Tamil Nadu Specified Comodities
Markets (Regulations and Location) Act 1996 is not feasible in the
present context as parallel wholesale trade in foodgrain is being
conducted in the George Town Area.



CMDA sources said that the act implies that consequent to any area
being notified for market all other areas where parallel wholesale
trade in foodgrains is carried out becomes prohibited.



And the newly constructed food grains market falls short of being
termed as a market as nearly two-third of traders will continue to
operate from George Town area thus failing the objective for which it
was constructed.



It is learnt that as per the survey undertaken by CMDA in 2011, a
total of 1500 shops carry out foodgrain trade in Anna Pillai Street,
Acharappan Street and Govindappa Naicken Streets of George Town area.
The market, which has a capacity of 492 shops, is only catering to 400
traders of George Town area.



This also highlights the lack of application of mind before going
ahead with the project. “Are the officials not aware of it while
constructing the market. The whole department including the minister
is answerable for wasting the public money,” said a trader.



The irony is that the officials are now thinking again to accommodate
all the food grain traders from George Town Area in a phased manner
and are considering the possibility of constructing additional shops
for foodgrain traders in the vacant land available in Koyambedu
Wholesale Market Complex for the purpose of notification under the
Tamil Nadu Specified Comodities Market (Regulation and Location) Act
1996.



The newly constructed market is also plagued by cases relating to
allotments after CMDA cancelled 23 allotments stating that the
allottees failed to pay the amount within the stipulated time. This
has irked the allottees and some of them have already approached
Madras High court.



Factfile:

1. There are 1500 foodgrain shops in George Town area carryig out the
wholesale trade in rice, pulses and other foodgrains

2. The new foodgrain caters to only 492 shops.

3. 400 shops have been allotted to traders from George Town area.

4. The new food grain market could not be termed as food grain market
area under the Tamil Nadu Specified Commodities Markets (Regulations
and Locations) Act 1996.

5. The Act implies that consequent to any area being notified for
foodgrain market all other areas where parallel wholesale trade in
foodgrain is carried out becomes prohibitive.

6. The declaration of market area for Foodgrain under the Act is not
feasible as parallel wholesale trade in foodgrain will be conducted in
George Town area