Successful start to lockdown in Capital
   Date :23-Sep-2020

lockdown raipur_1 &n
 
 
Staff Reporter :
 
Raipur,
 
Commercial activities comes to a complete halt in city 
 
BARRING regular scenes of deliberate violations of lockdown norms, State capital, Raipur on Tuesday witnessed low-key activities and movement all across, even as multiple prevention measures were ensured in places to make sure that people do not venture out on streets unless it is a genuine reason or medical emergency. However, in a post-dawn scenario, the city wore a deserted look as there were negligible movement of people or motorists on the roads and shutters remained down of all private and commercial establishments.
 
Yet, the whatsoever negligible movements witnessed on the road were those people who form the link of essential and emergency services and they were given exception to operate for stipulated period. Additionally, the students heading for the exam centres were also given access to move in and out. Moreover, the Raipur District Administration reinforced with the District Police Force and Civic authorities made the long-stretch of G E Road inaccessible to many by keeping several key intersections a ‘one-way’ route.
 
The access denial mechanism was further bolstered up with fix-pickets manned by the personnel from local police station as well as a dedicated squad of over 100 troopers from Chhattisgarh Armed Force (CAF). “We had specially urged the Police Head Quarters to extend the CAF troopers to assist Raipur Police during the lockdown since the local police stations were facing shortage of manpower after many tested positive for Covid-19,” Additional Superintendent of Police (City) Lakhan Patle told The Hitavada. According to the ASP (City), the Raipur Police already have additional force of 200 personnel at their disposal, which would be pressed into service for phase-wise strict lockdown compliance.
 
“So far, the first day response of people to lockdown is satisfactory and gradually, we have plans to enforce a stricter compliance of the remaining 6-day shutdown to contain the spread of Covid-19 infection,” he maintained. Meanwhile, Working President of Chhattisgarh Chamber of Commerce and Industries (CCCI) Lalit Jaisingh said that trading mainly daily sales amounting to Rs 200 crore was affecter on the first day of the lockdown in Raipur. Besides sales, daily wage earners and those dependent on other daily source of income were the worst affected, This segment of the suffering lot would be around 10,000 persons in Raipur. He appealed to all trading community members to strictly follow the lockdown guidelines and stay to home. The business will slightly improve with re-opening of establishments after the lockdown, Jaisingh maintained.