Pumpkins and banana plants brought to the Koyambedu wholesale market for sale during Ayudha Puja were dumped as waste after traders failed to find buyers.
Traders from Tiruvallur, Chengalpattu, Chennai and Kancheepuram districts usually procure goods in bulk from the Koyambedu market and sell them in their respective areas.
Expecting sales to rise this year, wholesale traders at Koyambedu had stocked large quantities of banana plants, pumpkins and vegetables. However, rain and the holiday appear to have kept customers away, resulting in sales falling short of expectations.
With much of the stock remaining unsold, the banana plants and pumpkins deteriorated and became unfit for sale. Traders were left with no option but to discard them.
Large heaps of banana plants and rotten pumpkins could be seen at the market’s garbage dumping points. Vegetable vendors also discarded produce brought in for sale on Monday after failing to find buyers.
Disappointed by the poor sales, traders said they had been forced to throw away the goods as business at the Koyambedu market had not picked up as expected.
