Reliance Retail Limited (RRL) sent back 60 tonnes of fruits and vegetables into the city’s mandis on Friday. The move followed Chief Minister Mayawati’s announcement on Thursday that 10 Reliance Fresh outlets in the city would be closed temporarily.
The government had ordered that the stores be closed, fearing a law and order problem after a group of traders had attacked the outlets on Wednesday.
Vegetable and Fruit Merchants Association general secretary Sanjay Sonkar confirmed Reliance had sent back fruits and vegetables. “These are being sent to the open market for sale. Reliance picks up fruits and vegetables at market rates from mandis, so there is no question of selling them below market prices anywhere. Fresh fruits and vegetables are supplied to a number of retail stores in Lucknow from the Dubagga, Chowk and Sitapur mandis,” said Sonkar.
An RRL spokesperson in New Delhi said the fruits and vegetables were sent back to avoid wastage. “The company believes in the policy of curtailing wastage at its stores across the country,” said the official.
However, Spencer’s Retail outlets in the city, owned by the RPG group, saw big crowds and did brisk business. They received their regular fruit and vegetable supplies, Sonkar added. “We have not seen any official communique from the state government. The stores were operational yesterday and till now,” RPG vice-chairman Sanjiv Goenka said. A government official later clarified that the shutdown wasn’t applicable to Spencer’s outlets.
With PTI inputs
However, Spencer’s Retail outlets in the city, owned by the RPG group, saw big crowds and did brisk business. They received their regular fruit and vegetable supplies, Sonkar added. “We have not seen any official communique from the state government. The stores were operational yesterday and till now,” RPG vice-chairman Sanjiv Goenka said. A government official later clarified that the shutdown wasn’t applicable to Spencer’s outlets.
With PTI inputs