New Delhi: The Aam Aadmi Party-led government in Delhi Monday ordered the closure of the Central Market in Lajpat Nagar, the latest in its drive against such markets flouting Covid norms even though the city is witnessing a declining trend in the daily number of cases.
In its latest order, a copy of which was accessed by ThePrint, the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) has cited vendors flouting norms for its decision.
“Enforcement teams found that social distancing norms weren’t being followed in one of the major markets of the national capital,” the order reads. “Vendors were seen selling edibles without using adequate precautions, in gross violations of social distancing norms.”
The decision was taken after an inspection was carried out by sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) Praveen Kumar along with Covid appropriate behaviour (CAB) enforcement teams in Delhi.
The market will now remain shut until further orders.
Also read: One meeting in one month, Delhi govt O2 panel was stalled before it got off the ground
Not the only market to be shut
Lajpat Nagar, however, isn’t the only market to be shut down this way in the national capital.
On 3 July, a similar order was issued for the Punjabi Basti Market and the Janta Market in Nangloi.
In the order, issued by Shalesh Kumar, SDM, Punjabi Bagh, the administration alleged that shopkeepers and the general public were not maintaining adequate social distancing norms in both markets.
The markets are to remain closed until 6 July (Tuesday).
On Sunday, the administration had issued similar orders for areas in Sadar Bazaar.
The order, accessed by ThePrint, states that “market associations and shopkeepers were unable to manage the large footfall” at Rui Mandi in Sadar Bazaar. The mandi has also been shut until 6 July, with only stores pertaining to essential services allowed to remain open.
Pressure from market associations
The market in Delhi’s Laxmi Nagar had been directed to shut for a week on 29 June, district officials confirmed to ThePrint.
Sources, however, said it was allowed to reopen three days later on 1 July due to pressure from the market welfare association.
ThePrint contacted SDM (East) Sonika Singh for a response but didn’t get one despite repeated calls and messages.
Twelve shops in Gandhi Nagar Market in Shahdara were also directed to shut shop on 4 July for overcrowding. They will have to remain closed until 12 July.
A senior Delhi government official told ThePrint that shops in Sarojini Nagar market had been issued notices last week for overcrowding.
Delhi Sunday reported 94 cases and 7 deaths and positivity rate stands at 0.13 per cent.
(Edited by Arun Prashanth)
Also read: Behind AAP-Modi govt clash on SC panel report are 2 different methods for calculating O2 quota