Day after crowds, Lucknow markets wear deserted look

LUCKNOW : After witnessing the crowd at Dubagga Mandi, on Friday and at Naveen Galla Mandi on Saturday morning, the district administration has issued strict directives to ensure social distancing and has allowed only the wholesale traders to enter the market premises.

Lucknow district magistrate (DM) Abhishek Prakash said announcements have been made at the vegetable and grains markets in Lucknow to ensure social distancing. He said he along with the district administration team visited Naveen Galla Mandi on Sitapur road on Saturday. He said proper markings were made at the distance of 1.5 metres each so that the wholesalers maintain social distancing while collecting commodities.

He said similar arrangements are being done at 38 other vegetable markets in Lucknow.

The DM has nominated administrative officers as nodal officer for different work. He said Additional DM Ram Araj Yadav and City Magistrate Sushil Pratap Singh are made nodal officers to ensure social distancing and law and order situation in wholesale, retail markets and other shops during the lockdown period.

He said ADM RD Pandey is made nodal officer to ensure no black marketing is done by the shopkeepers and people are getting essential commodities on reasonable rates. Moreover, Pan dey along with ADM Vishwa Bhushan Mishra will also ensure uninterrupted supply of essential commodities in Lucknow, he added.

GROCERIES DRYING UP

Local grocers, supermarkets offering home deliveries have been drying up due to the scarce supply of goods. In Gomti Nagar area of Lucknow, supermarkets are offering home delivery but on Saturday the stock for most commodities were not available and the grocers assured to supply the stock by next week. Grocers in Gomtinagar areas said people are stocking the ration fearing that situation could turn worse. Local grocery stores that were already under pressure are not getting the supplies.

SOCIAL DISTANCING

Residents in Mahanagar observed restraint and remained inside their houses on the fourth day of lockdown, on Saturday. The markets remained closed besides the shops of essential commodities like ration, milk, vegetables. Some vegetable vendors visited the localities.

CLOSURE OF MARKETS

The areas like Qaiserbagh and Aminabad are completely adhering to the lockdown. The busy Qaiserbagh crossing wore a deserted look while the cops were manning the crossing round the clock.