Mad rush in markets ahead of lockdown
   Date :09-Apr-2021

Mad rush_1  H x
 Heavy rush seen in the market areas in State Capital.
 
 
Staff Reporter :
 
RAIPUR,
 
Amidst heavy surge of COVID-19 positive cases in the capital followed by announcement of Lockdown, which comes into force from Friday evening (6pm), mad rush and panic buying has been observed in markets and departmental stores across the capital, making the situation much more grim. Starting from grocery stores to vegetable and fruit markets/shops, liquor outlets and paan kiosks, everywhere there is mad rush and panic buying. Due to this, the sellers got an opportunity to increase the prices of all commodities whether grocery, vegetables, fruits or any other items. Even in some places, packed items are being sold on premium. All of a sudden the prices went sky-rocketing despite Collector Dr S Bharathi Dasan constituting nine committees for monitoring the prices of essential commodities in the capital. It is worth mentioning here that after reporting of heavy surge of COVID-19 positive cases in the capital, Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel had called a meeting of the Cabinet and as per the recommendation of the State Government, the Collector imposed Lockdown in the capital from April 9 (6pm) to April 19 (6am).
 
As per lockdown conditions, all kinds of shops including that of grocery and vegetable, etc will remain close. Only medical stores, hospital, petrol pump (for those eligible) and LPG supply will continue as earlier. Unnecessary venturing out will also call for action. Soon after the announcement of this Lockdown order on Wednesday evening, a mad rush and panic purchasing was witnessed in the market across the capital. People were so occupied in their panic purchasing they forgot about social and physical distancing, wearing masks as well as other Covid Appropriate behaviors. It seems that despite so high casualties due to COVID-19 across all age-groups in the capital, people aren’t fearful instead they are more concerned about hoarding food grains and other necessary items in their houses.
 
This led to huge chaos in the market and those indulged in selling grocery, vegetables got the opportunity to raise the prices. In fact, the lockdown order itself is solely responsible for this chaos and chances are high that due to this chaos in the market, would lead to much heavier surge in COVID-19 infection cases in comparison to what it is being reported since last two days, which the district administration intends to arrest by breaking the chain through this lockdown, stated a resident. If the district administration had allowed opening of grocery shops and vegetable kiosks for 3-4 hours daily like earlier, this chaos and loot in the market could’ve been avoided easily, he said. Despite the constitution of nine teams by the district administration to stop black-marketing, it is going on in full swing particularly in vegetable and fruits markets, where the prices have been more or less doubled, making a big hole in the pockets of common man.
 
Prices of vegetables shot up alarmingly, for examples tomatoes were sold at Rs 40-50 per kilo, potatoes at Rs 30 per kilo, onions at Rs 30 per kilo, garlic at Rs 120 per kilo, drumsticks at Rs 80 per kilo, brinjal at Rs 40 to Rs 50 per kilo, lady finger at Rs 60 per kilo, bottle gourd (lauki) at Rs 30, cucumber at Rs 30, cauliflower at Rs 50 per kilo, capsicum at Rs 60 per kilo, kundru at Rs 50, Ganwarfalli at Rs 60, white radish (mooli) at Rs 40, Kochai at Rs 60, torai at Rs 50, so far and so forth, etc. Many prominent citizens have urged the district administration to carry out strict action against the traders for indulging in black marketing and hoarding.