At least 85% of the vegetable shops at the Koyambedu wholesale market complex face closure as they have been found to be operating illegally by the market management committee. This could affect supply of vegetables across the city. The market management committee, which reports to the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority, found that about 1,600 of the 1,900-odd shops at the vegetable enclave don't have the requisite papers to operate.
Shop allottees can either carry out sale of vegetables or rent or lease out the shop to others through tenant agreements. "Most of them have been found to have rented out shops without any agreement. This is in violation to the Tamil Nadu Specified Commodities Markets (Regulation of Location) Act,1996," said a committee member.
Moreover, trade licences are issued only to the allottees. "In many cases, it has come to our notice that those who are operating illegally, are running their business with a trade license obtained in the name of the allottees. It is again a violation," the official said.
