People say e-retailers selling rotten vegetables

VISAKHAPATNAM: Following the lockdown the district administration had allowed delivery of essential commodities via e-commerce so that people did not have to leave their homes. Special permissions and passes were given to e-retailers like More, Spencers, Big Basket and Reliance. But people still have to leave their homes.

Speaking to TOI, residents of a colony complained that not only is the delivery of

essentials

commodities taking more than a week to get delivered, but the

fruits

and

vegetables

delivered are rotten by the time it reaches them.

A case in point is G Nitesh, an entrepreneur, who had placed an order for fruits and vegetables online. He said, “I did not receive all the vegetables that I ordered, but the ones I got were rotten and had to be discarded. I had made an online payment, which included delivery charges. If this continues we will be forced to go out and buy the essentials.”

Rashmita, another entrepreneur, said, “Although most of the required items are not available online, I bought whatever was there. E-retailers are taking more than five days to deliver the essentials. Only a few items we receive were in good condition. I hope the quality improves.”

Speaking to TOI, a senior store manager from More supermarket, said, “We have been delivering essentials to people at home for the past few days. Last week, there were a few fruits and vegetables which were made available to the people from our cold storage. Since we get our stock from Bengaluru and fruits and vegetables are perishable, it is difficult to maintain the freshness. However, we ensure that rotten fruits or vegetables are not delivered.”

Meanwhile, Srinivas who runs the Vizag-based Do Ghante app, which home delivers essential commodities, said, “We are still facing problems to deliver essentials as we are not being allowed after 11 am. We are getting many orders from people but due to the time and area constraints, we are not able to reach people.”

Speaking about the issue to TOI, DCP (Law and Order-1) Ranga Reddy, said, “We will look into the issue and ensure that good quality products reach people. If

rotten vegetables

are delivered by e-retailers, strict action will be taken. We urge the people not to pay money if they receive rotten vegetables.”