Chennai's vegetable markets disappearing: citizens concerned

Chennai, Mar 13 (UNI) Chennai's vegetable markets are gradually disappearing from the scene, causing grave concern among citizens and conservationists alike.

In the last six months to one year, vegetable markets at Royapettah, Teynampet and Nungambakkam have all vanished, and the latest to feel the heat is the historic Thannithorai market in Mylapore, which has been a landmark for over 100 years.

In the absence of heritage rules, the markets have moved to private hands, though they are public utilities, says Vincent D'Souza, Editor of local papers Mylapore Times, Adyar Times and Arcot Times, who is running a campaign to save Thannithorai market. Vincent adds that the prime locality in which the market is located has made it a target for real estate development, even though the majority of vegetable vendors in the market want to continue doing their traditional business there.

'The state needs to take steps to conserve these places which are part of the city's heritage,' he says.

V Sriram, historian, expresses his anguish at the city being run only for the rich and the wealthy and not for common folk.

Everything is suited to the upper class. Thannithorai market is a viable entity. Pedestrians are being served by the market and it caters to the middle class.

He adds that Chennai is a city where no social movement has gained ground in the recent past. People here are 'very comfortable' and do not have a civic sense. 'Everything has got into politics,' he says, a sentiment, expressed more strongly by Vincent D Souza: 'People keep off controversial issues for fear of goondaism.' More UNI