The wholesale fruit and vegetable market at Gultekdi will resume its operations on Sunday after being shut for over 45 days.
A joint meeting of officials from APMC (Agricultural Produce Market Committee) with porters, traders and transporters took place recently in which it was decided that the vegetable and fruit market will resume from Sunday. The reopening of the market will help the retailers to function their business.
BJ Deshmukh, Administrator, Pune Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) said, “A joint meeting was conducted between market stakeholders and traders. Thus, we have decided that the fruit and vegetable market will restart functioning from Sunday followed by necessary precautions amid the coronavirus.”
“Half of the traders will run their shops on alternate days. Number of vehicles entering the wholesale market will be limited as well as we will practice the social distancing as well as the area will be sanitized completely,” added Deshmukh.
Siddharth Khaire, one of the fruit vendors, who has a shop in Gultekdi, said, “The market was closed amid the lockdown since the last few days; thus we are limiting the stock as we do not have any idea of the sale.”
“It’s a big relief now that the market has resumed and we can supply fruits to the city retailers. Also, we have distributed gloves and sanitisers to our workers and surely going to follow the rules of social distancing. None of the workers living in the containment zone will be allowed to come for work,” he added.
GROCERY MARKET RESUMES
The Pune APMC had shut down Market Yard after COVID-19 positive cases were reported from the area. But a wholesale grocery market was reopened on Monday.
Like wholesale fruit and vegetable market, APMC has declared firm guidelines for traders following the reopening which consist of thermal scanning of each individual visiting the market, using sanitiser, face masks and restricting the number of trucks permitted to enter the market.
Ajit Pawar, Deputy Chief Minister and Balasaheb Patil, Cooperative and Marketing Minister had informed the administration about recommencing the market so that farmers can bring their products to the market for sale and preserve plenty supply of fruits and vegetables around the city.
