Merchants protest notification

The Kirana Merchants Association (KMA) has beseeched the state to reconsider its denotification order on the Bunder Area, which it passed on April 27.

President of KMA, Mohandas Prabhu informed the gathering at the KCCI here on Monday that a letter signed by nine elected representatives in this regard had been forwarded to Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy.

The letter has focussed on the lack of infrastructure and other basic facilities at the 'Baikampady Area' where trade in agriculture produce where 113 traders operated was proposed to be shifted, he said.

Besides, the loss of revenue and trade to neighbouring states, the order was also a blow to the Fundamental Right of Right to Livelihood, he observed.

The efforts of the KMA have borne fruit to the extent that the nine elected representatives are to meet Deputy CM B S Yediyurappa and APMC chief Narayanswamy on May 17 on the issue, he added.

John Prasad Menezes, President, KCCI, in his address proposed an action plan to tackle the contingency. The KCCI will invite Secretary of Co-operatives Ravikumar to have an interaction on the issue soon, he said.

Approaching the judiciary would definitely be considered as a last resort he added.