Chalai traders on war path

Traders in Chalai, one of the busiest and oldest markets here, are preparing to launch an agitation against the pathetic condition of the roads inside the bazaar, especially the busiest Kothuval street.

Pressing their demand for repairing the heavily damaged road on war footing, the Kothuval wing traders, part of the Kerala Vyapari Vyavasayi Ekopana Samithi (KVVES), will observe a day long hartal and hunger strike on Wednesday. The traders are planning to shut their shops on that day and join the fast.

The Pothuval street and the adjoining side roads are filled with potholes for the last several years. Although several representations have been given to the corporation and the government in the past years, none of them bothered to respond till to date. The customers have to negotiate deep potholes, usually filled with muddy water, especially during the Monsoon period, resulting a negative impact on their sales. In fact, the traders are vouch that their business have dwindled over the years.

One of the shopkeepers stated that the corporation actually forced them to take such a drastic step. He was scared that this unmanageable road conditions may affect their Onam sales, which is just less than two months away. "We stand to lose heavily during the Onam festival season if these roads are not repaired. And that actually is the boom period of the year...,” he said.

Mohammad Sidheek, secretary of the KVVRS unit, said that the lack of fire safety measures in the area is another hazard. He said that a delegation of KVVES office bearers met Mayor K. Chandrika recently and submitted a memorandum. They also met transport minister V S Sivakumar, who represents the area, and ward councillor Usha Sathish, and corporation secretary K. Biju seeking immediate action.

The hunger strike on Wednesday will be inaugurated by the district president of the KVVES, Peringamala Ramachandran. Local people and representatives  from other units of the district KVVES are expected to join hands expressing solidarity with the agitating traders, Sidheek said.