Record sale in stock-up rush

Siliguri, June 16: The wholesale markets here clocked up record sales today with combined business of Rs 2.75 crore as traders from the hills went on a buying spree before the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha’s indefinite shutdown resumed from 6pm.

The regulated market at Champasari, which sells fruits, vegetables, fish and spices, loaded goods worth Rs 1.75 crore in more than 50 trucks.

Another 80 or so trucks picked up rice, pulses, cooking oils and other grocery items worth Rs 1 core from Khalpara Wholesale Market.

In the past few weeks, because of the protests in the hills and the plains, sales at the two markets combined had not touched Rs 1.5 crore, said traders.

In Champasari, the last truck left around 4pm.

“It was a busy day for us with transactions of around Rs 1.75 crore. This is the highest in a single day in the past four-five years,” said Tapan Saha, the secretary of the Regulated Market Merchants United Forum.

“Since 9am or so, more than 50 trucks have left for Darjeeling, Kurseong, Kalimpong and Sikkim, loaded with vegetables, fruits, fish and spices,” Saha said.

Potatoes, onion, ginger and fruits like pineapple and mango were the most in demand, the forum secretary added.

The buyers said they were stocking up before the bandh relaxation was lifted.

“I rushed here early this morning and carried away potatoes and onions. This is my second trip,” said Vishal Tamang of St Mary’s Hill in Kurseong and located about 55km from here. It was 3pm and Tamang was driving away from the regulated market in his pick-up truck.

Durga Chetri, a trader from Pakyong in East Sikkim, said: “I replenished my stocks from here because from tomorrow, Morcha supporters will not allow any vehicles to ply on the highway connecting Sikkim and Siliguri. I don’t know how long the strike will continue.”

There was a big rush at the wholesale market in Khalpara, too.

“Around 80 trucks left from the market today with rice, pulses, mustard oil, vegetable oil and other grocery items,” said Sujit Bose, an executive committee member of the Siliguri Merchants’ Association.

Sanjay Rai, a truck driver from Darjeeling, was hurrying out of the wholesale market: “I have taken only rice and mustard oil. From tomorrow, I won’t be allowed to take anything to Darjeeling.”

“I have to reach Teesta Bazar (in the Kalimpong subdivision), before 6pm. If I don’t start now I will not make it,” Hari Neopani, who came here to stock up rice, said around 2pm.

The Morcha, which has revived the statehood demand in the hills, had called the indefinite shutdown from June 10, before relaxing it for four days from June 12 to allow people to stock up.