The Hindu : National : Fire-affected flower sellers in Kolkata being rehabilitated

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Fire-affected flower sellers in Kolkata being rehabilitated

Indrani Dutta

Temporary space located to enable sellers resume their activities

— Photo: Arunangsu Roy Chowdhury.

MASSIVE LOSS: The Mullickghat wholesale flower market in Kolkata, which was gutted on Friday night.

KOLKATA: Efforts are on to rehabilitate 2,000 floriculturist-farmers and 284 small flower sellers affected by the devastating fire at the Mullickghat market here on Friday night.

The flower sellers’ apex body is taking steps to protect their livelihood ahead of the Bengali New Year’s Day (April 15).

‘Poila Baisakh,’ as it is called, generates a massive demand in the wholesale and retail flower market, which transacts Rs. 2-lakh business on average a day.

Almost every shop owned by a Bengali is decked up with flowers on this day and devotees will visit temples with red hibiscus garlands.

Trinamool protest

The Trinamool Congress held a 15-minute road blockade at the spot, causing inconvenience to commuters rushing to catch the train at Howrah, which is just across the river.

Forensic experts scanned the debris, looking for clues that ravaged the market, which spawned over 30,000 sqft at Mullickghat on the eastern banks of the Hooghly.

The Kolkata Port Trust has provided land for temporary rehabilitation of the flower sellers.

It took fire engines three hours to douse the flames with a strong wind across the river fanning the flames.

A temporary space has been located to enable the market to resume its activities. There were no casualties.

Some stocks of flowers and personal belongings of the flower sellers were gutted.

Chairman of the Mullickghat Phulbazar Parichalan Samiti (the apex body), Sudhansu Seal, a CPI(M) MP told The Hindu that the farmers and the shop owners would be compensated from the Samiti’s funds.

“We have asked them to make honest claims and we will compensate accordingly.”

The market attracts floriculturists from all over the State, including from afar North Bengal, which used to send its orchids.

Mr. Seal, who had been leading the State’s foray into the international flower market, said export prospects were not likely to be affected as most of the entrepreneurs exporting flowers did so from their own farms.

He said the traders would continue to operate from these structures until the Rs. 24-crore new complex came up.

The complex, being funded by the Centre, would have cold storages, sorting centres, a foreign buyers’ convention centre and an auction centre. There would also be a facility for making value-added products such as natural perfumes, Mr Seal said.

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