Farmers Movement Archive

Social distancing goes for a toss in Dera Bassi

Dera Bassi, May 3Irrespective of multiple reminders of maintaining at least 3-feet distance between two people, social distancing and other precautionary measures for the prevention of Covid-19 went for a toss at Dera Bassi.Amid lockdown, people were seen violating the rules of social distancing and lockdown in sabzi mandi behind the MC office as they rushed to the vegetable market in large numbers here today.Cocking a snook at the order of refraining from large gathering in the wake of Covid, vendors and cart-pullers started their business at the market here. Consequently, the area was crowded with shoppers as the day passed.Due to a huge rush, people were seen jostling with each other to buy vegetables thus giving an open invitation to Covid-19 infection.Though some police personnel were deployed at the place, they appeared helpless in convincing the people to maintain social distance. One a few persons at the mandi were seen sporting masks.According to sources, people started gathering in the sabzi mandi in morning and the crowds swelled up by noon, with many thronging the market, disregarding social-distancing rule.Notably, several shopkeepers in internal markets opened their shops this morning. People flocked these shops to buy essential commodities.On Thursday, the local administration released an advisory for registered shop owners allowing them to open their shops in a staggered way on a rotational basis for four hours every morning with the condition of ensuring physical distancing and local arrangements of timing.Market in Zirakpur to open on alternate daysZirakpur: Due to the vague and multiple guidelines by the local administration and the state government, Zirakpur residents had a tough time visiting local market. There was a confusion among residents and shopkeepers regarding the opening of market timings as the local administration had conveyed 7 am to 1 pm, while the state government had revised it to 9 am to 1 pm.As most of the shops in the old Zirakpur market have no registered numbers or are unauthorised constructions, odd-even formula too cannot be implemented here. Some shopkeepers alleged that the police sent people back home and asked the shopkeepers to shut down their shops early in the morning.An MC official said: “The market will open on alternate days and the market timings have been revised from 9 am to 1 pm. Let us see how it goes.” Zirakpur SHO Guwant Singh confirmed the move.Meanwhile, confusion prevailed among most of the residents and people having business in the periphery about what restrictions would they face on Monday.Suresh Bhure, a Zirakpur resident, said: “I have to go to Dera Bassi tomorrow. I don’t know whether I need an e-pass or the police will allow me to travel by my two-wheeler.” — TNS

The Tribune

2020-05-04