The voices opposing the move to set up a unit of Walmart in the district are growing louder as traders have planned a massive bandh on August 10. As many as 1500 shops and establishments and industries are likely to participate in the bandh, Vizianagaram Chamber of Commerce president P.S.C. Nageswara Rao has said.
Addressing the media here on Thursday, Mr. Rao, along with Chamber’s president-elect Kedarasetti Sriramamurthy, said more than 1 lakh people including traders, workers, transporters and others would lose livelihood if the Walmart is allowed to operate in Vizianagaram. Business association leader Kapuganti Prakash said that a rally would be taken out from the SBI Main Branch junction to the Collector’s office on Saturday. “We urge the government not to accord permissions to Walmart to launch its commercial activities in the district,” he said.
It is learnt that the Walmart has submitted proposals to the district administration recently. According to sources, the company is planning to set up a unit near Jammunarayanam on the Vizianagaram-Srikakulam route.
Meanwhile, YSR Congress Party commerce wing leaders R.R. Nagesh and Ravva Srinivasa Rao extended their support to the bandh, promising that they would bring the issue to the notice of Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy.