Hyderabad: Nampally exhibition has been extended till February 28 to help vendors make up for losses suffered in Wednesday’s blaze. Also, the affected vendors will be duly compensated and provided adequate support by the government, home minister Mahmood Ali said.
The exhibition was to earlier conclude on February 15.
“We have not declared a compensation package now as we first need to assess the damage caused to the traders,” Mr Ali said. “Revenue officials are carrying out a survey. Once details are available, we will give due compensation. The exhibition is being extended to allow traders to make up for losses suffered because of the blaze.”
The minister said traders were regularly coming to Nampally and regular vendors will be extended all support.
But traders continued to protest on the exhibition grounds all day. “There is anger, no doubt, but no lives were lost,” Mr Ali said.
“The loss to traders is in terms of their wares and they have been shaken by the incident. Some of them were trying to salvage goods from burnt stalls. Our people are trying to assure them they will be able to make up for their losses in the extended period of the exhibition.”
Mr Ali spoke to the Jammu and Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and apprised them of efforts being made by the Telangana state government.
A request has also been sent for new stocks that will be required by traders.
The stalls will be set up again, but the traders said it will take them at least 15-20 days to get handloom and other accessories from their state.
“For this reason, we are considering extension of the exhibition till February end,” the home minister said.
“This has been a learning experience. We are going to change the complete set-up next year. All handloom stalls can’t be at one place. The number of stalls will also be reviewed. There is going to be a system of underground pipelines and fire hydrants so that a mishap can be immediately controlled.”
The Telangana government has asked the fire department to check the place thoroughly and issue a no-objection certificate within two days after which the exhibition can be restarted.
