BIRATNAGAR, March 10: The operation of the vegetable market with modern infrastructure at Katahari, Morang is in a limbo as it has failed to come into operation. The situation followed as the traders of Gundri refused to shift their businesses to the vegetable market.

 The vegetable market in the bank of Singhiya River, at the border of Biratnagar Metropolitan City and Katahari Rural Municipality, was built to make Gundri market accessible to customers. The vegetable market was inaugurated by Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Oli last year. 

The Project for Agriculture Commercialization and Trade (PACT) under the provincial government had constructed the vegetable market. Though Biratnagar Metropolitan City and Katahari Rural Municipality had taken the initiative to build the vegetable market, both local levels are not satisfied after the federal government handed over the market to the provincial government. The local levels want to manage the market under its authority instead of the provincial government.

Traders of Gundri market have not shifted their businesses in the new location citing lack of adequate infrastructure. The traders have started building an alternative market after the Biratnagar Metropolitan City issued a notice to leave the Gundri market.  The traders have started building a new market west of Biratnagar bus park. They have leased 3 bigha of land to construct a new market place for their businesses.

The vegetable market was constructed with an investment of Rs 180 million but traders say that the market is unable to come into operation as the government failed to engage the traders in its construction. Sahab Ahmad Guddu, secretary of Gundri Market Management Committee said that, the development work had to be operated as per the local need and demand but the government is trying to forcefully bring the market into operation for commission only. “We will not shift our businesses to the new market,” he said, “We warned multiple times that the market is not appropriate for the traders.” 

Traders have said that, the market located in the bank of a river will be inundated if the water level rises in the river and there is no infrastructure for the operation of loaded vehicles. The location is also not appropriate for both consumers and traders.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Land Management and Agriculture Development has been claiming that the market will be brought into operation. Pashupati Pokharel, planning division head of the ministry and member secretary of the Vegetable Market Management said, “The market will be brought into operation anyhow, be it by letting traders from other area do the businesses in the market.” But he stated that, they have been continuously trying to convince the traders to carry out their businesses from the market.

The vegetable market has the capacity of selling 44,966 tons of vegetables and 8,703 tons of fruits daily. 

 
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