HYDERABAD: Almost a year has passed since around 165 retail vegetable shop owners in NTR Nagar near LB Nagar Junction have been conducting their businesses in the absence of electricity.
After dusk, they used to stack up the vegetables at the market gate, under the lights. However, with the TSSPDCL cutting off the power supply five days ago, the retailers are left in pitch darkness.
The alleged corruption of the former Union leaders of the retailers and the numerous government procedures involved in getting the power connection restored is said to be the main reason behind the present fiasco.
Manoramma and NR Ramalamma, both former Union leaders, had allegedly gobbled up the `12,000 meant for the electricity bills of the shopkeepers. Accordingly, as the due date for power bill was crossed, the TSSPDCL authorities cut off the power connection and brought down the meter which was installed at the government office in the market, sources said.
Now that the former Union leaders have been expelled from the market and the Union also stands dissolved, the shopkeepers have no other way to let their voices be heard.
Meanwhile, the TSSPDCL officials blame it on the government office in the market. “We provide power line to the market office, from where the connections are distributed. If they cut the power, we can’t help it. The shopkeepers need to file a complaint but for that they need to produce their old meter bills,” said Green Hills Assistant Engineer Sreenivas Reddy.
However, on part of the shopkeepers, the bill payment is not so easy. “The expelled leaders have misplaced the bills, said shopkeeper Brahma Naidu.
Other problems plaguing the market
Absence of police patrolling and GHMC cleaners have turned the retail section into a neglected corner. The retailers also accuse the wholesale dealers of selling vegetables in small amounts and eating up into their business.
On the other hand, hamaalis (labourers) in the wholesale section, which has some 73 established shops, cry foul over inaction of their Union. The Union is not bringing up the issue of life insurance for them, allege the hamaalis.
“Minister Harish Rao allotted licence cards for hamaalis but the Union leaders are not providing us the licence numbers,” said Venkat (name changed).
“We work and die without any compensation to family. Someone will replace us after death,” rued an angry hamaali Rajaram (name changed).