The Hindu 10.12.2010
No cartel in e-auction: Corpn. Commissioner
Special Correspondent
|
Fish merchants should not rely on middlemen: Anshul Mishra |
Photo: M. Periasamy
In unison:A section of the traders sit in front of stalls that were
closed at the old fish market at Ukkadam in Coimbatore on Thursday in
protest against the civic body’s decision to allocate through
Coimbatore: Out of the 66 shops in the newly-constructed fish market
at Ukkadam, 19 shops had successful bidders in the e-auction held on
Thursday.
Meanwhile, fish merchants in the old Ukkadam fish market on Thursday
closed shops in protest against the auction system and demanded a
friendly auctioning process.
The fish merchants expressed apprehension over involvement of
syndicates and cartels in the e-auctioning. They even picketed the
Corporation main office on Wednesday. Of the 66 shops, 46 are meant for
fish merchants, 10 for mutton and 10 for dry fish shops. In Thursday’s
auction there were bids for 10 shops earmarked for fish vendors, six for
mutton merchants and three for dry fish merchants. The highest bid was
for Rs 5,250 per month and the lowest rent was Rs 3,000.
Corporation Commissioner Anshul Mishra said the number of shops that
had bids proved that there was no syndicate or cartel. Fish merchants
should not rely on middlemen and should take part in the auction
process. Mr. Mishra exhorted them to be vigilant against being misled.
They should not aspire for prime shops at lowest rates. Even for the
remaining shops, the merchants could take part in the re-auction and
avail the shops that had not received any bid in the auctions held on
Thursday.
