Tension grips Flower Bazaar as CMDA seals shops

The market wore a deserted look even as vendors alleged that the officials were deliberately evicting them. They saw an ulterior motive behind the sealing: they were trying to shift the market to Koyambedu where fruits and vegetable shops do business. 

Sources said the CMDA officials without any prior warning reached the market and told the vendors to agree to sealing. Following this, the officials and police personnel sealed the shops. Their contention was the vendors were permitted to sell flowers only in retail but were doing wholesale business despite several warnings.

“The officials’ action is highly reprehensible and all the vendors hail from poor families. In case of such wholesale eviction, how can the flower traders make both ends meet,” asked R Rajendran, Secretary, Chennai Retail Flower Traders Association. He pointed out that there were already 46 cases in civil courts in connection with their continuing the business in the area and they were expecting a favourable verdict. 

The traders asked the officials how could a person who wanted to purchase flowers for just Rs 10 or Rs 50 go all the way to Koyambedu market.