The Times of India          21.08.2013

NMC to decide date to shift flower market within a week

NASHIK: The Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) on Tuesday said it will decide the date of shifting the existing flower market at Saraf Bazar to a new location after meeting the flower vendors within a week. The civic body said the amenities sought by the flower vendors are to be provided at the new location before they are shifted.

Earlier, the civic administration had decided to shift the existing flower market at Saraf Bazar to a place adjacent to the new vegetable market near Ganeshwadi in Panchavati area of the city on August 15. But the civic administration deferred its decision as it could not provide all the amenities in time.

A civic body official told TOI, "We have started providing basic facilities at the new place as per the requirements of flower vendors and will . Accordingly, we have put up a fencing there and also provided toilet facilities. We have already made markings for the flower vendors at the new place. We will

decide the date of shifting the flower market to the new place following a meeting with the flower vendors this week."

A flower vendor said on the condition of anonymity, "The civic administration has not provided all the amenities at the new place. It has still not put up sheds. The civic body had told us to shift to the new place on August 15, but it neither approached us nor provided the basic facilities at the new place. We are ready to shift but the NMC itself is delaying the process."

Earlier, the civic administration had decided to shift the flower market to the new space on July 12 following a meeting with the president of the flower vendors' association on July 9. However, the vendors suddenly changed their stance and refused to shift to a new location. They also met municipal commissioner Sanjay Khandare and mayor Yatin Wagh urging them to cancel the decision to shift the vendors to a new place. However, Khandare and Wagh urged them to cooperate by shifting to the new place.

Thereafter, the vendors met district guardian minister and the state PWD minister Chhagan Bhujbal and sought his intervention. Accordingly, Bhujbal held a meeting with Khandare and the vendors on July 21. During the meeting, it was decided to provide all the required amenities to the vendors at the new location. Accordingly, the civic administration and flower vendors unanimously agreed to shift to the new place on August 15.