BHOPAL: Citing wedding season, visitorsí rush and congested lanes, the administration has shrugged off its responsibility of checking overcrowding in city markets, however, leniency on the part of authorities and the careless behavior of the people may prove dear.
Even as the guideline that not more than six people will be allowed to assemble at place at a time, people on
Giving an excuse of congested lanes and roads, the administration is shrug off its responsibility of checking overcrowding in markets specially in old city. Even as the guideline that not more than six people will be allowed to assemble at place at a time, people on shopping spree are seeing throwing cautions to the winds.
Be it New Market, Chowk Bazar or Lakherapura, all are crowded. Administration attributes rush in New Market to outsiders. After the two months of lockdown, many people have come to the state capital to meet ministers and others and they are the one who are visiting the New Market for shopping before they return, maintain authorities. While, for the overcrowding in markets in the old City, the administration explains there are not many visitors but because of the congested lanes and bylanes it looks like a huge rush.
It seems people have not learned any lesson† from the Covid-19 second wave which wreaked havoc. Despite the cautioning of the government, people have let down guards against the fatal infection which so far has claimed lakhs of lives.
While the administration and particularly the health department is on toes ensuring all arrangements to meet any exigencies if at all third Covid-19 wave hits the city, however, by the manner people are thronging public places specially markets it seems they do not give two hoots to the third wave.
"In old city, roads are highly congested and even if a few people gather it looks overcrowded. Chowk Bazar, Lakherapura, Ibrahimpura, Budhwara, Jumerati, all these markets have narrow lanes and a litter gathering of visitors chokes the streets. However, in New Market, there is enough space for visitors and so the shoppers are spread out in a large area, But despite the threat of corona, even the New market is witnessing heavy rush. The wedding season is underway and so the market is† crowded," said Tehsildar Devendra Chaudhary.
People should act responsibly
While the administration is taking all steps to check infection spread, the people should also cooperate. Crowd is uncontrolled in markets. People should also act responsibly and strictly adhere to all corona guidelines. Monitoring teams are keeping an eye and imposing fines on people found flouting the Covid protocols. -Devendra Chaudhary, Tehsildar
'Wedding season attracting heavy rush'
Rush in markets is due to the wedding season which is in its last phase. After the unlocking, people are coming out of their houses to† purchase essentials and other things. We on our parts are ensuring adherence to all Covid-norms and also making our customers abide by it. Even monitoring teams are making regular visits, besides NGOs too have been engaged to spread awareness about the Corona and the precautions to be taken to keep it at bay. -Ajay Dewanani , general secretary,New Market traders association.
'Authorities should check to overcrowd'
"In Bairagarh, there are 80 ft roads so we do not have any issue of overcrowding in the market here as is seen in old city and New Market. But it is up to the administration to check the crowd as leniency on their part may cost dear to the public and the administration will be held responsible for it. -Kanhaya Lal Israni, president, Kapada Vyapari Sangh.
