Hours after releasing the notice for shutting down two evening markets in Delhi, the government withdrew it. The order had been sent in view of the CM’s earlier statement of closing markets that are turning into covid-19 hotspots in the city.
On Sunday, the Delhi government called for the shutdown of Punjabi Basti market and Janta of Nangloi locality to last till the end of the month as the area was found to be violating coronavirus induced regulations like wearing masks and maintenance of social distancing.
The markets contain more than 200 vendors selling several items for the daily utilization in their stores.
In order to check the execution of the order, officials of West Delhi along with the police reached the two markets to ascertain the closure of the shops and other stalls last night.
However, the CM Arvind Kejriwal had stated on Friday his government’s intention to not close any markets. Instead it asked representatives of the city’s market organizations to give masks to those who are seen not wearing one. The same was extended to them during a virtual meeting held by the Chief Minister.
The Additional District Magistrate, Dharmendra Kumar of the West District had passed an order reading, “It has come to the notice of District Disaster Management Authority that the directives issued with regard to wearing of masks, maintaining physical distancing, etc., issued by the Govt of India/GNCT of Delhi are being flouted by the vendors/visitors in the Punjabi Basti Market and Janata Market, Nangloi, Delhi, despite various instructions issued by district administration time to time. Therefore, in overall public imminent interest, it is hereby ordered to close these markets till 30th November.” However, the government withdrew it just hours later.
The city, which is dealing with heavy number of infections each day, had its CM state on 17th November that the government has sought the Centre’s permission to close markets for some days after they have found to be hotspots for the virus.
The national capital has crossed the 5.3 lakh mark with an increasing number of fatalities.
The government last week quadrupled the penalty for not wearing masks to Rs. 2000, from the earlier set Rs. 500. This fine will also be levied on people who violate quarantine rules, physical distancing regulations and also those who chew and spit tobacco and pan masala on the streets and public places.
Delhi has recently reduced the limit of guests permitted to be invited for weddings from 200 to 50 in view of the growing cases. 700 hospital beds have also been added along with the reservation of 80% of the beds solely for coronavirus infected patients in all hospitals.
The city registered 6.746 new infections on Sunday with 121 deaths related to the covid-19 pandemic. Delhi has also been battling air pollution that increased in oodles in the past months even though experts have reiterated time and again that air pollution is a major factor for worsening the pandemic.
Coming just next to America, India stands second in the world’s list of countries with the highest number of covid-19 cases. It is hit with more than 91.39 lakh infections while over 1.33 people have lost their lives to the disease.
