Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (KD/MB)

Mangalore, Jun 13: The Agricultural Produce Marketing Committee (APMC). has decided to sites allotted to 31 persons, at a meeing held at Baikampady APMC premises near here on Tuesday June 12.

Addressing media persons APMC president Krishnaraj Hegde said that there were 40 such cases but 9 among them, following their appeal, have been given a month’s time to fulfil the requirements.  The remaining 31 members would get the same benefit if they paid the fee in part or settle in full.

It was the first meeting that the APMC convened after the notification of government on April 27, in which it was decided to withdraw the market yard status to Bunder area in old port. The traders of the market area there had been asked to shift their operations to the APMC yard in Baikampady.

There are 19 others who have valid trade licence but have not paid the fee. Besides, there are 127 traders who have valid trade licence and also paid the full fee but do not have the approved building plan. So it was decided at the meeting to allow those 127 and 19 traders a month's time to take steps to fulfil the requirements, failing which, action would be taken against them, said Hegde.

Even after the state government had issued a notification on shifting its market-yard to APMC in Baikampady, a number of traders reportedly refused to shift. The traders should have opposed when the government invited objections before the new market-yard was constructed. the building. The new complex was constructed at a cost of Rs 30 crore on an 80.80-acre land in Baikampady.

Hegde said that out of the 18 members of the APMC, 17 were present. Of them only two members opposed the proposal made and later passed as a decision.

 APMC vice president Savitri Menda and secretary Satish Kumar were among those present.