Khemchand moots wholesale market at Lamphel
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, March 02 2023: MAHUD Minister Y Khemchand has mooted the idea of opening a wholesale market at Lamphel supermarket where agricultural produces, particularly vegetables brought from different corners of the State can be sold at wholesale prices in the morning.

MLA Irengbam Nalini raised a call attention motion in the State Assembly today highlighting the plight faced by vegetable vendors due to lack of proper plots at Khwairamband Keithel.

She said that farmers, particularly women belonging to far off corners of the State, have been facing lots of difficulties in selling their produces at Khwairamband Keithel.

These women usually start their journey to Imphal just after midnight but they don't get enough time to sell off their produces/goods at Khwairamband Keithel, she said.

The time slot from 4 am to 7 am is not enough to sell off all their produces/goods.

Moreover, they face a lot of difficulties in taking back the unsold produces/goods as there is no secure place to store their goods at Khwairamband Keithel, Nalini said.

These women coming from far off places often incur heavy losses as substantial quantities of vegetables perish before they are sold, she added.

She then sought attention of the MAHUD Minister to extend the time slot given to vegetable farmers cum sellers till 10 am.

Responding to the call attention motion, Y Khemchand said that the issue of vegetable growers cum sellers deserves attention but the Government has been facing many problems on account of the ever increasing number of wholesalers and retailers.

At the same time, petitions have been filed at Courts seeking removal of street vendors from Khwairamband Keithel, Khemchand said.

As the cheaper vegetables were usually sold on roads which blocked movement of people including students and sick individuals who needed immediate medical attention, the Court passed a judgement which prohibited sale of vegetables and other goods on roads in areas covered by the Imphal Municipal Corporation, he said.

After a large market was constructed at Lamphel, the IMC issued a notice on December 22, 2022 informing that vegetables brought in bulk shall be unloaded at Lamphel supermarket, not at Khwairamband.

Nonetheless, the Government allotted a time slot from 4 am to 7 am to vegetable growers cum sellers.

If this time slot is not enough, the vegetable growers may go to Lamphel supermarket and open a wholesale market there.

It would solve the difficulties faced by them apart from enhancing their sales, he said.

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