Markets remain closed on 1st day of week-long lockdown
    Date :23-Jul-2020

Markets remain closed _1&
 Prominent market place for wholesale and retail business in M G Road area wore a deserted look owing to complete closure of showrooms under lockdown imposed in Raipur from Wednesday.
 
 
Staff Reporter :
 
Raipur,
 
DESERTED Malviya Road with shutters down on every major showrooms and small shops, coupled with bare minimum movement of people and blaring sirens of police patrolling vehicles and public announcement asking people remain indoors, marked the day one scenario of week-long lockdown, which commenced in Capital Raipur, here on Wednesday. Similar scenes were also witnessed at all major commercial and business areas of the city including MG Road, Banjari Bazaar, Pandri, Fafadih, Shankar Nagar and other key thoroughfares, since the local district administration had made mandatory for ‘no vehicles road’ during the lockdown period.
 
However, some of these places witnessed local civic authorities resorting to stern legal actions against roadside vendors and shops, pulling crowd in total defiance of lockdown norms. Many shops and outlets were also sealed while some were also imposed upon fine by the authorities. The development comes in a sharp contrast to repeated appeals made by Raipur District Magistrate and Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) to strictly remain indoors or face action for violations of directives, though the district administration assertively allowed and promoted all means of contact-less business through home-deliveries during the stipulated time frame.
 
Yet, the capital city and many of its residents in usual practice of making mockery of law enforcers came out on the roads without any validated reasons and they roamed freely on city roads on their modes of transports. While mostly youngsters were particularly spotted on two-wheelers beyond the permissible limits of pillion riding, many were also taking advantage of the deserted scenario by consuming liquor inside the comfort of their 4-wheelers at secluded places.
 
Quite strangely, the scant respect by the local residents for lockdown and their authorities enforc ing are the yardsticks behind the rapid spike of Covid-19 cases in the capital city, even though the administration provided 3-day windows to all do necessary preparations ahead of lockdown commencement in Raipur. Meanwhile, Working President of Chhattisgarh Chamber of Commerce and Industries (CCCI) Lalit Jaisingh said that chamber assured the District Administration of extending full support by strictly following the norms and guidelines framed for the weeklong lockdown commenced from Wednesday. The traders belonging to Raipur district were detailed on the guidelines, restrictions and those kept out of restrictions with scheduled timings through WhatsApp messages.
 
Though market was totally closed in the city, CCCI had appealed District Administration to specially consider by providing an hour time to the traders to complete important banking works related to clearing of cheques etc. Chamber thanked the administration for realizing the importance of the appeal and reassured for full support to the lockdown from July 22 to 28, he added. In between, teams from all 10 zones of Raipur Municipal Corporation conducted strict inspection drive in the respective area led by its senior officials. A team led by Zone Commissioner of RMC Zone 1 seized products from Shanta Sweets and sealed the shop for violating the lockdown norms.
 
Similarly, owner of Sandwich Junction situated at Devendra Nagar, Sector 2 under Zone 2 was penalized and the shop was sealed on being found open without permission in the ongoing lockdown. The Fiza Beauty Parlour at Shanti Nagar found open without permission was closed by RMC with the support of the local police. The Zone 4 team lead by Zone Commissioner Vinay Mishra sealed Raza Restaurant opposite Balgopal Hospital and Natural Ice Cream showroom near ACB office at Canal Road for violation of lockdown guidelines.
 
The Zone 6 team led by Zone Commissioner Dinesh Kosariya and the CSP team imposed penalty on three persons for not wearing masks during the special drive at Mathpurena area. The Zone Commissioner of other RMC zones are sealed several shops and hotels, and also imposed penalty on persons for not wearing masks during the lockdown.