A delegation of wholesale food-grain and fruit traders from Dhanbad operating from the Agriculture Produce Market Complex at Barwaddah met Dhanbad deputy commissioner Amit Kumar again at the district collectorate on Wednesday to request him to allow their entry into the market to carry out their business.

The traders, led by Rajesh Kumar Gupta, president of the Federation of Dhanbad Zilla Chamber of Commerce and Industries Association, and Vinod Kumar Gupta, president of the Dhanbad Zilla Khadyann Vyavsai Sangh, also apprised the deputy commissioner of the adverse impact on trade due to sealing of the food-grain market and the resultant price rise because of scarcity arising in Dhanbad and adjoining districts such as Giridih, Jamtara and Dumka.

Vinod said: “We have been suffering losses of Rs 4 to 5 crore a day ever since the closure of the market, but its delayed opening will deal a blow to our business because perishable items such as flour and potato stocked inside the market godown will start rotting. If any crisis of food grains arises because of lack of trade we will not be responsible and the onus will be on the district administration.”

Amit Kumar said: “The three-tier security for strongroom is mandatory and we can’t make any alteration in norms on any pretext because entry of traders and other people might put security at risk.”