KOLKATA: Rain throughout Thursday left several community markets across Kolkata in a mess with ankle deep water and trash accumulating in many pockets.
Market committees which are already trying to ensure steady supply of essentials since restrictions have been increased for two more weeks were also struggling to get the accumulated water drained out so that vendors can set up their stalls.
The three-hour window to conduct business hampered the cleaning operations as people flocked to the markets as cloud cover moved and rain stopped on Friday morning.
“There was ankle deep water in many pockets of College Street market on Friday so several vendors could not set up their stalls,” said Joydeep Saha, a shop owner at College Street market.
In several markets the civic body is carrying out repairs and renovation for which construction material was dumped.
The materials blocked the water outlets leading to accumulation of water.
The supply chain of essentials was hit hard by the inundation because of heavy rain in south Bengal following the landfall of Yaas.
At many places the roads connecting the haats with wholesale markets were still under water leading to the demand-supply gap.
“Farmers are still reeling under distress because of the damage to the standing crops.
The invasion of saline water in the land is only adding woes to their sufferings.
Besides, the regular upward revision of diesel prices is hindering the transportation,”said Kamal Dey, president, West Bengal Vendors Association.
“We are not getting enough vegetables at haats.
The quality has also worsened because of the flood.
In the next few days, we will have to depend on our neighbouring states and north Bengal for the supply of vegetables to the city markets,” said Jehangir Khan, a wholesaler of Bankrahaat.
Standalone stores in neighbourhoods have come to the people’s rescue.
“Since the new restrictions came into effect, I was shutting the store at 10 am but for the past few days there are so many customers that I have to keep it open for extra couple of hours,”said Mohammad Wasim,a grocery shop owner in Beck Bagan.