Unlicensed Rythu bazar stalls to be removed

HYDERABAD: The state government has decided to cancel the existing licences of Rythu bazar stalls and issue new licences to others as the stall dealers have failed to renew their licences.Rythu bazar chief executive officer P S Pradyumna said that stall dealers have not renewed their licences for the last ten years. Moreover, they are not allowing genuine farmers to sell their produce in the stalls. “In a couple of weeks, notices would be served to the dealers of self-help groups in 106 bazars,” he said.Last week, orders have been passed to all Rythu bazar estate officers to make a detailed file of their stalls and dealers and submit them by August end, said Pradyumna.A majority of the stalls in Rythu bazars across the state are being occupied by middlemen in the name of self-help groups with only 25 per cent being allotted to individual farmers as against the norm of 75 per cent of the space being allotted to farmers with the rest being made available for self-help groups explained Pradyumna.K Komaraiah, a farmer from Nagireddygudem village in Ranga Reddy district said, “Small-time farmers and vegetable sellers do not have stalls in Rythu bazars. They are, however, forced to sell in front of the bazar due to lack of space inside.”According to Mehdipatnam Rythu bazar estate officer, allottment of space to genuine farmers would pose a problem as they would not sell their produce on a daily basis at the bazar as they do not produce vegetables throughout the year. They do not cultivate all kinds of vegetables that the customers seek. Some people ask for vegetables that are grown elsewhere like capsicum and Agra potatoes, during the summer season, he said. Rythu bazars were set up so that farmers could sell their produce directly to consumers. The purpose of these bazars is far from being fulfilled, agreed Mahammud Fasiuddin, superintendent of Rythu bazars.