Hans News Service Vijayawada

Hamalis(loaders) working at the Sri Durga Malleswara Wholesale Vegetable Market at Nunna, near the Vijayawada West Bypass, staged a sudden protest on Thursday night, demanding an increase in their loading and unloading charges (coolie) in view of the rising prices of essential commodities.

The hamalis gathered at the main gate of the market and raised slogans demanding an immediate hike in their charges. The protest was led by CITU Vijayawada City Secretary Seetharamaiah and hamali mestri Sureddy.

The protesting workers refused to unload vegetables arriving in lorries from various districts and also opposed attempts to make alternative arrangements. As a result, traders reportedly diverted several lorries to other districts to avoid losses to farmers.

The Sri Durga Malleswara Wholesale Vegetable Market was recently shifted from the Rajiv Gandhi Wholesale Market in Vijayawada to Nunna. The market was established on 5.50 acres of land, with new buildings constructed to facilitate wholesale vegetable trade, particularly due to its proximity to the Vijayawada West Bypass.

The market supplies vegetables to various districts across Andhra Pradesh as well as neighbouring States. Trading activities generally begin around 7 pm and continue until 7 am the following day, with some operations extending up to noon. Traders expressed concern that the sudden strike could disrupt their daily business and affect the movement of agricultural produce.

Meanwhile, representatives of the Sri Durga Malleswara Wholesale Vegetable Merchants Association held discussions with CITU leader Seetharamaiah and hamali mestri Sureddy in an attempt to resolve the issue.

The association representatives said the market had only recently shifted to Nunna and that traders had invested crores of rupees in establishing the new market. They assured the hamalis that their charges would be increased within a year. However, the CITU leaders and the hamalis reportedly rejected the proposal and insisted on an immediate hike. According to the association representatives, the hamalis at the Nunna market are currently being paid higher charges compared to workers at several other wholesale markets in the State.

At present, traders pay Rs.17 per 60-kg bag for vegetables meant for export, Rs.15 per 60-kg bag for incoming produce and Rs.12 per cover. In comparison, the charges in the Guntur market are reportedly Rs 12 and Rs 8 for the respective categories.

Association treasurer R Durga Prasad said the traders were not in a position to increase the hamali charges immediately and reiterated their assurance to consider a hike after one year.

He warned that if the hamalis continued to obstruct loading and unloading operations, the traders might be forced to close the market temporarily until the issue was resolved.