Nagaland traders bear the brunt of total lockdown

Our Correspondent
Kohima, Aug. 8 (EMN): The fortnight total lockdown in the state capital imposed by the Kohima district task force within the municipal area was called-off on August 7. Following the call-off, residents of Kohima hit the market and streets in various locations and business establishments began with their normal activities from August 8.

Heavy rush was witnessed on the streets and market as residents of Kohima come out to purchase essential goods. While select shops in various localities were allotted permit to facilitate the demand of the people, the traders were denied permit and forced to stay home.

It has emerged that perishable goods suppliers dealing with fruits and vegetables were among the worst hit during the lockdown period as their goods rot with time. Several traders told Eastern Mirror on Saturday that they suffered huge losses.

“We have loaded trucks at Siliguri as the first seven-day total lockdown was coming to an end and not knowing that it will be extended. Most of the products got rotten except for onion and potatoes,” said the manager of M/s Vegetables and Fruits Outlet in PR Hill Kohima.

He informed that tomatoes, green chillies, brinjal and other green vegetables rotted as it could not last for weeks. He informed that products worth INR 4 lakh was spoiled during the total lockdown period.

Vikram, another fruits and wholesaler in Kohima who started business early this year, said the Covid-19 pandemic had hit his business hard. He said a truckload of perishable goods that were brought two days before the onset of total lockdown rotted when he opened the shop on Saturday morning.

“Bananas, when at first brought, were worth approximately INR 2.5 lakh. But today, I don’t think it will even sell up to INR 10,000 with almost everything dumped,” he said.

The woes did not end there as he supplies pomegranate, mangoes, apples and others too. He added that the loss incurred during the 14-day total lockdown itself would cost more than INR 6 lakh.

Many warehouse owners have also said that they were badly hit by the lockdown.