From this week, Paro town’s vegetable market will operate from Tshongdue archery range. Although the market’s relocation was in the plan, the district administration decided to do it immediately against the indifferent response received from some vegetable vendors in encouraging physical distancing at the market.
The district administration identified vegetable markets as one of the crowded areas in the district following the government’s directive in March to practice social distancing. And so, vendors with less than two metres of space in between were asked to relocate themselves to the archery range, which is just next to the town.
However, the move received a lukewarm response from the vendors.
“We were told that physical distancing rule is mainly to stop the spread of Coronavirus. Accordingly, we maintain space in between which, by our understanding, is enough. But yesterday, officials came and those of us who do not have a permanent space here, were asked to move to open spaces to do business,” said Dorji, a Vegetable Vendor in Paro.
“Those of us operating from outside a shed were asked to move out. The other option was to use the back row where not many customers would normally come. There are many like me and everyone is unhappy over the decision,” added Pema Dorji, also a Vegetable Vendor.
Despite the confrontation, the district administration went ahead with plot allotment on Saturday. With a few vendors remaining, the process will be completed by today. And to be fair, the relocation rule applied to all vendors at the market.
“Initially, our plan was to move the local vegetable vendors to the archery range. Most customers prefer local vegetables so I don’t think customers will be a problem there. Moreover, the district administration has been working on relocating this market to a new place already for duration of two years. It was in the plan,” said Kencho Dorji, the District Municipal Engineer in Paro.
He said the existing sheds at the vegetable market will be dismantled and in its place, a new two-storey shed will be constructed. Related paper works for the project is complete and the construction is expected to begin soon.
Excluding the many farmers who come to sell their farm products, there are around 50 permanent vegetable vendors at the market.
Namgay Wangchuk
