15 per cent business affected, cry traders
Traders allege their vehicles are detained by officials and they are unable to rotate cash.
Chennai: Cash seizures by police and revenue officers across the state following the model code of conduct have created uproar among traders and micro financial institutions.
The police and revenue authorities are taking advantage of polls and often detain vehicles, allege traders in Koyambedu wholesale market and Parry’s corner.
Traders also said 15 per cent of their business has been affected in the past one week as they are unable to rotate cash. According to Vanigar Sangangalin Peramaippu general secretary K. Mohan the model code of conduct has become a disaster for small and wholesale traders.
More than 15 per cent of trade has been affected and if this continues it can affect business up to 25 per cent. Particularly, vendors selling vegetables, fruits and flowers suffer.
Wholesale traders visit Chennai after supplying goods from their native districts for the weekly collections in the market, but now they are apprehensive as police confiscate the collection amount as unaccounted money and have reduced supplying goods for credit, he said.
Farmers, traders and vendors are upset with the EC’s move and “we will soon submit a representation in this regard to Chief Electoral Officer Rajesh Lakhoni. A state-wide convention at Kovilpatti in Tuticorin is to be held next week and the issue will be discussed,” said Mohan. This minimum cash carry limit has to be raised to Rs 5 lakh and police and revenue team should be sensitised not to harass traders. “Despite knowing the difference between politically associated persons and traders, our members are detained during odd hours,” he alleged.
“This election surveillance has pushed wholesale traders to insist on cash and carry with retailers. After floods, business is dull in Chennai with several godowns lying vacant and this will make the market struggle for another few months”, said M. Jothiraj, a whole sale (provisions) trader in Rasapaa Chetty street, Parrys.
“Even a farmer into garlic or rice business would carry cash ranging from Rs 2 to 10 lakh easily and we pay the lorry drivers in lakhs as weekly and monthly advance for diesel expenses. I can never ask the farmer and the lorry driver for bills and documents and if this money is caught I am in big mess,” he added.