MARGAO: Margao businessmen lost over Rs 5 crore of earnings due to the nationwide bandh. Goldsmiths are the biggest losers, with their losses alone amounting to over Rs 4 crore. The local wholesalers and retailers come in second, with losses running into several lakhs of rupees in the Gandhi market and new market alone.
Incidentally, not many know why the bandh was called for; most traders closed their businesses fearing law and order problems and due to logistical issues. At least 65 jewellery shops and showrooms at Margao market, which are usually busy with customers all day, were shut on Wednesday.
Herald spoke to businessmen in the commercial capital about how the bandh has affected them and their business.
President of the goldsmiths association Pramit Raikar stated, “Frankly speaking, we don’t know the reason for the bandh. If it is about transport and road laws, then we have nothing to do with the bandh. We have lost yet another day of business in an already crashing gold market.”
Vikram Verlekar, proprietor of the largest showroom and retail gold facility in Margao, stated, “It was a forcible bandh for us businessmen as we feared law and order
problems.”
