In a letter to the mayor, Punjab Mandi Board secretary P.S. Aujla, protested that the proposal runs counter to the interests of both farmers and consumers. Aujla points out: "Since the Apni Mandis attract a large number of consumers, a number of rehri and phariwalas have started setting up their rehris near the site of Apni Mandis, resulting in virtual blockade of entry for Apni Mandis consumers. This even creates traffic problems."

The letter adds that the matter was brought to the Corporation's notice in the course of the Apni Mandi Committee meetings. At Monday's Committee meeting Board representatives opposed the parallel market proposal as it would defeat the purpose of Apni Mandis, namely to provide farm fresh vegetables and fruits at reasonable rates without involving middlemen.

Talking to Newsline, Aujla, who was earlier SDM in the UT Administration, said: "Granting permission to set up pharis and rehris near Apni Mandis will certainly encourage encroachers who are in the habit of grabbing prime land free of cost," and described the move as "politically motivated".

"The MC should remove illegal rehri-phariwalas from the site of Apni Mandis rather than regularising them," said Aujla. He added: "Otherwise the Board will be compelled to withdraw the Apni Mandi scheme."

He told Newsline that during the tenure of IGP Kiran Bedi the Board had approached the police for traffic control near Apni Mandi sites. The IGP responded quickly and traffic was brought under control. "If Kiran Bedi can regulate traffic why not the others?" he questioned.

He reiterated that the Board would not allow the Apni Mandi concept to be undermined.