Coconut trading to stop in Navi Mumbai from tomorrow
Mumbai, Apr 17 (UNI) The Bombay Coconut Merchant Association has decided to quit trading in coconut in Navi Mumbai from tomorrow in the face of what it described as the stubborn policy of Mathadi Kamgar, a body representing workers.
Association secretary Paras H Kenia today said even though the merchants had earlier agreed to the workers' demand to reduce per bag weight of coconut from 95 kg to 80 kg on account of health reason, yet the workers did not stop harassing traders by refusing to even lift bags which averaged less than 80 kg a piece.
The Assocation said they had already lost 40 per cent trade to surrounding markets in Thane, Kalyan, Dombivili, Bhivandi, Panvel, Vasai and Virar where workers belonging to Mathadi Kamgar are still loading and unloading 95-kg bag.
Mr Kenia said when a few bags in a truck weighed over 80 kgs, the workers refused to unload, forced traders to engage unregistered workers and also pay the workers registered with Mathadi Kamgar. In view of this recurring harassment of traders, the Association has decided to quit the trade from tomorrow, he added.
UNI