Associations reject compromise formula on vegetable supply
HERALD CORRESPONDENT
BELGAUM, FEB 9
The vegetable supply crisis, which seemed to have been over after the bilateral discussions between officials of Goa State Horticulture Corporation’s (GSHC) and Cantonment Wholesale Vegetable Merchants Association (CWVMA), has deepened further.
All members of the 500 strong associations have rejected the compromise formula that was worked out during the meeting that was held at the office of the deputy commissioner of Belgaum on Wednesday afternoon.
The merchants during a late evening meeting that was held at the Association’s office have raised suspicions regarding the dubious dealings of GSHC. They have taken a decision to stop the entire supply of vegetables to the Corporation and further intensify the agitation.
“However, the supply to regular vendors in Goa will continue,” Association President Divakar Patil told Herald.
The decision in this regard was arrived at 9 pm on Wednesday. Apart from affecting supply to GSHC stalls, the crisis seemed to have deepened further and situations may be serious. The members of the Association have stuck to their demand of equal opportunity to all the suppliers.
Earlier, positive developments were witnessed and a solution was arrived during the meeting attended by Goan delegation comprising Secretary for Agriculture C P Tripathi, Director of Agriculture Satish Tendulkar and GSHC Managing Director Orlando Rodrigues.
However, the meeting that was chaired by Deputy Commissioner Dr Ekroop Caur commenced amid heated exchanges and allegations from both the sides.
Association President Divakar Patil made strong allegations stating that the members of the association fail to understand why only four suppliers have been patronized in the list to supply the entire 130 tonnes of vegetable to GSHDC.
Patil also sensed some ‘Gafla’ (fraud) regarding the four suppliers and demanded that apart from observing transparency, opportunity should have been given to more suppliers for healthy competition that would benefit Goan consumers.
The members of the association also alleged that these four suppliers are enjoying a huge margin and asked where the margin disappears.
“Sitting at Goa, you are not aware of the actual market rates and believe in whatever the four suppliers inform you,” Patil told Orlando Rodrigues. He also challenged to obtain the latest rates by fax.
Rodrigues, who preferred to avoid confrontation, expressed his inability in dealing with so many suppliers, stating that the Corporation “cannot do business with everybody.”
“From four shops four years ago, GSHC has successfully established 356 shops. A contract has been already signed with four suppliers, as nobody from Belgaum wanted to supply to GSHC,” Orlando Rodrigues confirmed.
Dr Ekroop Caur suggested the Association members to deal with GSHC as a unit, the suggestion that was agreed by GSHC delegation.
“Some rationalisation is required in supplies of vegetables,” said Dr Caur adding “Let your dealings be clean.’
The Association members too agreed to visit Goa on Thursday to sign contract, after discussions with the Association members.
GSHC agreed to offer one route on a trial basis on the terms and conditions set by the Corporation. “However, our vehicles should not be stopped,” he urged the Association members. “We are clean, let them also be clean,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Goan delegation immediately left the Deputy Commissioner’s office to oversee the stock of supplies stocked at the godown hired by GSHC at the APMC market yard, which is about six kms away from the Cantonment Wholesale vegetable market, the regular supplier to Goa.
It is understood that the vegetables that were blocked on Tuesday were dispatched to Goa.
