NEW DELHI: Gaffar Market and Naiwala Market have been ordered to remain closed from 10pm on July 9 till 10pm on July 11 as Covid-appropriate behaviour was not being followed in both places.
In the order issued on Friday by Karol Bagh sub-divisional magistrate Balram Meena, it was stated that the market associations had failed to ensure compliance to Covid-19 norms, which is why it was necessary to take stringent action.
“The Karol Bagh executive magistrate’s report mentioned that shopkeepers, vendors and the general public at Gaffar Market and Naiwala were not following Covid-appropriate behaviour. Due to huge footfall, market associations and shopkeepers were not able to ensure Covid protocols in the last three days. The situation may become the cause of super spreading of Covid-19,” the order added.
Stating that it was important to take immediate and stringent action to curtail the spread of the virus, the order further mentioned, “In public interest, both the markets are restricted to open with effect from 10pm on July 9 till 10pm on July 11. Karol Bagh ACP is directed to sanitise the market and market associations should extend all cooperation.”
In another development, the north district administration issued directions for closure of the DDA market in Sector 13, Rohini till July 12 for gross violation of norms, including by the shopkeepers, and extreme congestion.
The order issued by the Alipur SDM stated that additional DCP (Rohini) conducted a surprise inspection and found gross violation of norms as a large number of shopkeepers and visitors were not wearing masks, no social distancing was being followed and the market was extremely crowded. The market association of Sector 13, Rohini has been directed to submit a clarification and detailed plan as to how Covid-appropriate behaviour would be ensured after which it would be allowed to open based on DDMA guidelines.
On Friday, a notice was also issued to Avantika Market in Rohini Sector 2 to strictly abide by the norms to avoid closure.
Prior to these markets, Laxmi Nagar, Gandhi Nagar (12 shops), Nangloi, Rui Market and Lajpat Nagar markets were closed in the past one week for flouting norms. The traders argued that shopkeepers and market associations alone could not be held responsible for violations in public places.
Chamber of Trade and Industry Delhi convener Brijesh Goyal said that traders would meet the district magistrates concerned on Saturday. “If the rules are being violated in any market, then the responsibility of compliance and enforcement lies with police and the civic bodies. If a crowd is seen in any market, the administration should meet the market associations first and work out ways to improve the situation rather than closing it,” Goyal added.
