VIJAYAWADA: Local MP L. Rajagopal on Thursday assured `mutha' workers on Canal Road in One Town that he would find an amicable solution to the simmering problem of shifting of wholesale shops from Canal Road to Gollapudi by Friday evening.

He said there was no need of shifting all wholesale shops to Gollapudi as only 18 associations owned shops in the newly constructed shopping complex.

"I will convince officials to let shop owners of the remaining 42 associations do their business on Canal Road and to allow unloading of goods between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m.," he said.

Visits shops

Mr. Rajagopal, along with local Congress leaders, visited shops on Canal Road, which were closed four days ago.

He felt that it was unfair on the part of officials to mount pressure on traders to close wholesale businesses on Canal Road.

He wondered how officials made it mandatory to shift all shops when a majority of traders did not own shops in Gollapudi complex. "I oppose the move, which causes inconvenience to hundreds of `mutha' workers. More than the traders, the workers will have to suffer a lot as they will lose their livelihood if all shops are shifted to Gollapudi," he said.

`Court misguided'

"At any cost, the issue will be sorted out by tomorrow evening and works will be resumed here from the day after," he said. President of the City Congress Committee Pyla Sominaidu said that some forces with vested interests misguided officials and the court over the issue of shifting of wholesale shops. "Let us launch a united fight against such forces to protect the interests of local workers," he said. Deputy Mayor Cherukuri Krishna Kishore, Congress corporators - N. Nageswara Rao, K. Rajasekhar - and others were present.

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