Hyderabad: Begum Bazaar shutdown spawns fears of essentials' scarcity

Hyderabad: Thanks to the closure of the Telanagna's largest wholesale market at Begum Bazaar till July 5 (First week) on account of the surge in deadly coronavirus cases, the State is staring at scarcity of essential commodities.

It is expected that some essential goods prices may go up abnormally until the trade in begum bazar is resumed. The state government's fresh hint at reimposing lockdown will also aggravate the situation further in the supply of necessary commodities to the needy.

Incidentally, the closure of wholesale market till the first week of July will have an adverse impact on the daily lives of all sections of people who usually buy the groceries in the beginning of the month.

The retailers in many parts of the city and in districts are already displaying "no stock" boards and in some areas, local traders are fleecing the consumers on the pretext of insufficient stocks.

The famous Begum Bazaar, Osman Gunz, and Siddi Amber Bazar abutting Old city are abuzz with commercial activity round the year. The wholesale trade centre is the hub of whole sale suppliers of essential commodities mainly rice, pulses, spices like ginger and garlic, cardamom, cloves, onions, joggery, sugar, cosmetics including branded soaps, daily use materials like dish and home cleaners.

80 per cent of the retail traders in Telangana buy the goods from the bustling Begum bazaar. Retailers from districts of Adilabad, Suryapet and Wanaparthy also rely on this wholesale market.

Fear over growing number of corona cases in the neighbouring Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra, traders from Khammam and Nizamabad districts also shifted to begum bazar to buy goods for trade purpose.

Hyderabad Kirana Merchants Association (HKMA), comprising around 300-400 wholesale and retail shop owners from Begum Bazar had already made it clear the sale of essential goods was stopped.

The wholesale market has been opened and ensured the supply of all necessary goods to everyone during the lockdown period for three months since March.

Now, the fast spread of virus was a cause of big worry to the traders, the association leaders said. It will be a bit difficult for consumers to buy essential commodities in July first until the wholesale trade resume at Begum Bazaar.

Reports says some traders in Hyderabad and in the districts hoarded pulses and spices in advance and created artificial scarcity to cash in on the closure of wholesale market till the begum bazaar opened.

Sensing the grave situation, the Commercial Taxes department swung into action to contain the hoarding of essential commodities and escalating prices by traders in the bandh period and also ensure the reach of the commodities to the destination mainly retailers by convincing the wholesale dealers.

Officials said that the vigilance wing of the department in coordination with the Civil Supplies department is monitoring the availability of essential commodities in the markets from time to time.