The much awaited rains that brought respite from the heat wave to several in the city might not have brought the same joy for the vendors of the floating market at Patuli.

Even the SKOCH order of Merit Award could not change the fate of the vendors who are suffering losses and hoping for a profitable income soon. The market that had started with not-so-good volume of sale five months back, picked up some pace for a while in the last two months, if the witnesses of the vendors are anything to go by.

However, with the onset of the monsoon, the delight of the vendors soon subsided as the footfall became poorer due to lack of sheds and shelter for visitors in the market premises.

“Our sale was already miserable despite gaining pace during the last few fortnights. The rain has added to our misery as there are hardly any customers during the morning hours. Although the number of visitors increases in the evening comprising mostly window shoppers, the overall sale is undergoing losses,” said Sujata Mondol, an elderly vegetable vendor in the market.

Regretting about her family expenses, another female vendor said, “In the old market I used to earn about Rs.5000 per day. But here, earning Rs 400 per day is also becoming like winning a battle. Managing the family with such poor income has become really difficult. If the sale remains stagnant, I will have to switch to some other business.”

Another vendor expressed a similar grief and rued that as boats lacked sheds from the sides, his stock were getting damaged fast in the rains thus adding to the losses. He also added that unable to bear family expenses with such poor income, a few from the vegetable and fruit sellers have changed their business and set up food stalls in the nearby areas earning better incomes than what they earned from the floating market.

Meanwhile, Mr Gopal Naskar, one of the union leaders of the floating market, (that wore a deserted look even on a Sunday), said: “The issue has been raised to the concerned authorities who have assured us they would take appropriate steps at the earliest. Three shelters have been proposed along the stretch of the pathways, the construction of which is to be started soon.

“Also, the authorities have agreed to cover the boats from sideways to prevent damaging of fruits and vegetables.” Expressing hopes of a stable sale in the market soon, Mr Naskar further added that the construction of a flyover towards the southern gate of the floating market has hindered and delayed the construction of the sheds. However, as assured by the authorities, it will start soon within a few weeks time.