Thousands of city residents and retailers threw COVID-19 safety protocols into the winds and fish and wholesale markets on Saturday before Sunday’s lockdown.
Despite the announcement of restrictions, the Koyambedu wholesale market and Kasimedu fishing port witnessed huge crowds. According to wholesalers in Koyambedu, around 5,000-6,000 small commercial vehicles were received in the market since Friday night against a daily average of around 3,000.
This led to heavy traffic around the market till Saturday morning, though traffic rules were in place. Similarly, arrivals of produce from Tamil Nadu and other parts of neighboring states also increased to 400 trucks as against 340 lorries on Friday, traders said. Chandran, president of the Koyambedu Market Licensed Merchant Association, said around 30,000-35,000 retail traders would have visited the market on Saturday. Individual customers are still not allowed to enter the premises. About 85% stocks, especially green vegetables, were sold and onion and potato stocks remained unsold.
Barring a few vegetables like carrot, drumstick, beet and okra, prices of most vegetables had stabilized. The prices of several vegetables had dropped by up to 5 kg on Saturday due to abundant arrivals, he said. In Kasimedu, although wholesale auctions were separated from retail sales, buyers were trying to get the best price and quality at both locations. , “The auction started sometime after midnight and went on till morning. But there was a lack of discipline among the retailers and buyers and they rushed to buy the fish at the auction pier. M Dayalan of the Indian Fishermen’s Association said the separation could not be done due to the large numbers. Community leader Nanjil Ravi said the required quantity of fish was not available due to restrictions in the number of fishing boats. “This pushed up the prices and many went back home empty handed. Better regulation is needed in the market to protect the interests of all stakeholders.
Sources in the fisheries department said steps would be taken to build a wall between the wholesale and retail areas inside the fishing port with the permission of the Chennai Port Trust, under whose control the port comes. “At 7.30 am we announced that the retailers should go to the space allotted to them. But when many did not listen, we literally had to remove the fish and drive away the buyers,” said an official.
Crowds were also witnessed in other markets and even retail vegetable and provision shops. “It took me longer than usual to buy vegetables and fruits on Saturdays. It seemed that people were buying in panic,” said B Narayanan, a resident of PTC quarters.