Fruit Vendors Shutdown Decrying Frequent Raids by Food Safety Department

VIJAYAWADA: All the 150 wholesale and retail shops in Vijayawada were closed on Thursday in protest against ‘frequent raids’ by the Food Safety Department.

Led by Fruit Merchants Association at Kedareswarapet in Vijayawada, they took out a protest rally in and around the fruit market raising slogans against the undue pressure being exerted by the Food Safety Department.

They said they do not produce the fruits and only sell what is being brought by the farmers, but are being wrongly accused by the Food Safety Department of using calcium carbide. They alleged that fruit shops in the city were being raided time and again whenever food-related incident happen elsewhere.

“A rumour or a news in the media that fruits are not safe as they are coated with harmful chemicals is ruining our business. Frequent raids by the authorities are giving an impression that something is wrong and people are hesitant to purchase fruits. It if goes on, we have to close our businesses,” Fruit Merchants Association secretary N Chiranjeevi Rao told Express.

When pointed out about a fruit merchant caught using calcium carbide to artificially ripen Papaya couple of months ago during raids by officials, Rao said it was an isolated case. “Since then, we have been constantly vigilant and ensured that all the fruits sold here are carbide-free. But the officials don’t believe us,” he said.

According to him during season, Vijayawada fruit market does a business of Rs. 1 crore per day and during non-season, it is less than 75 per cent business. “Today, with frequent raids, the business has come to just 10 per cent. It is not just affecting our business, but also the livelihood of the hamalis who are dependent on us,” he pointed out.

Each shop supports on an average 30 hamalis, who earn Rs. 400 per day during peak season and half that amount during non-peak season. Today, with drop in business, they are unable to earn much and the number of the workers supported by a shop has also dropped. The hamalis at fruit market also participated in the bandh.