Key Update

Authorities at the Mawana Naveen Sabzi Mandi in Meerut in Uttar Pradesh suspended the licence of a commission agent, or ‘arhtiya’, after officials discovered vegetables stored inside a defunct toilet on the market premises. The action came after a viral video showed tomatoes, ladyfinger, green chillies, coriander, mint, and bottle gourd packed in polythene bags inside the unused toilet.

Officials Seize and Destroy Vegetables

Mandi committee secretary Arjun Singh said the toilet had remained unused for a long time due to clogging. Officials identified the trader as Abhay Kumar, proprietor of Pradhan Trading Company, who allegedly stored leftover vegetables there without permission. After receiving information about the incident on May 15, the Mandi committee team reached the spot within two hours, seized around one quintal of vegetables, and buried them in a pit to stop them from entering the market.

Authorities Suspend Licence After Inquiry

Officials issued a notice to the trader and later suspended his licence after he allegedly failed to provide a satisfactory explanation. Authorities also found that some toilets in the market complex, originally meant for farmers, traders, and customers, were allegedly being used as storage spaces.

SDM Warns of Strict Action

Following the incident, SDM Santosh Kumar Singh sought an explanation from the Mandi committee secretary and warned that authorities would take strict action after reviewing the inquiry report.

Source: NDTV