The Hindu Business Line : Chilli trading at Guntur to resume next week

Guntur, May 16 Trading is likely to resume on Monday (May 19) at the chilli market yard here, which was destroyed by fire on May 3, and the authorities are erecting temporary sheds and making other arrangements for the purpose. The devastating fire destroyed more than two lakh bags of chilli and caused extensive property damage in the yard, the biggest in the country.

Convinient place

The agriculture market committee, the district administration, and the trade finally took a decision to resume trading in the gutted market yard here, as it was the most convenient. There were proposals earlier to resume trading at Sattenapalli, Chilakaluripeta and other places in the district, but it was felt Guntur would be the most convenient place, because of the proximity of the godowns, cluster of cold storage units surrounding the market, the skilled labour and the availability of transport.

The Chairman of the Agricultural Market Committee, Mr L. Appi Reddy, said the work on erection of temporary sheds was going on and all arrangements would be made for the safe conducting of the trade in summer. Fire-fighting equipment would be kept ready and the farmers could bring in the produce without any hesitation.

Temporary sheds

The District Collector, Mr B. Venkatesam, said all efforts would be made to make trading hassle-free and he urged the trade to co-operate with the administration in payment of compensation to the farmers.

The President of the AP Tobacco Growers’ Association and a former member of the Rajya Sabha, Dr Y. Sivaji, said the Government had not yet fixed the responsibility for the fire accident and there was too much delay in payment of compensation to the farmers. Several lacunae in the Agricultural Marketing Act needed to be addressed, he felt.

He also urged the State Government to expedite work on the construction of a permanent, modern chilli marketing yard here.

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