CHENNAI: The flower market in Asia’s largest perishable goods market is slowly dying a painful death and is being converted into a den of prostitution by anti-social elements due to lopsided government policies, lack of proper infrastructure and basic amenities.The flower traders, who left their shops in Parry's Badrain Street after the government directive in 1996 to move to Koyambedu Wholesale Market, are now cursing themselves for adhering to the orders. “How we wish we had not adhered to the directives. Our business would have thrived in Parrys just like the business of those who did not leave,” says Koyambedu Wholesale Flower Market Association Secretary Mookiah.Interestingly, despite court directives asking flower traders from Parrys to move to the wholesale market, no action has been taken, says Mookaaiah.The dwindling fortunes of the traders could be surmised with the shops in the upper floor of the market remaining closed and being used by flesh traders. When City Express contacted the Chief Administrative Officer of Market Management Committee (MMC) P Senthil Kumar, he confirmed that he had received complaints about flesh trade on the top floor of the flower market. “I have informed the member secretary of the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority and we are building a ramp to use it for business purposes so that such unlawful activities don’t prevail there. We have even asked the police to keep a vigil in this regard,” he says.With the puja season set to begin, the traders are worried that their business will dip as the E road, which leads to the flower market entrance, is closed due to the ongoing Metro Rail works. “During rains, the flower market area is flooded and women traversing through the narrow road fall into the water,” says another trader. Mookiah suggests, “If they can work out a narrow 10-feet way, it would be a blessing in disguise for us.” The business during the puja season is about 10 times more than during the daily business. If a shop sells anywhere between 100 kg and 500 kg a day during the puja, it will sell anywhere between 1,000 kg and 5,000 kg a day, says Mookiah, raising concern over the lack of connectivity to the flower market. The lack of connectivity is slowly forcing the flower exporters and businessmen to choose Parrys over Koyambedu market. “The flowers in Parrys may be costly, but I don’t have a choice,” says Kannan of Kannan Floral Exports.MMC officials say that the traders have now been accorded permission to build their own road in Gate number 19. The road near gate number 19 is a kutcha road with a huge mound of garbage dumped behind the flower market, says Mookiah, whose association does not have a single representative in the MMC. “We do not want the waste to be dumped here,” he adds. But the chief administrative officer says that the dumping of waste behind the flower market is on a temporary basis. “Till the court case is over, we have no other alternative but to dump the waste here. However, we have asked Ramky Enviro Engineers to clear the garbage during the daytime. If they haven’t done so, then we will impose fines on them,” he adds.
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