KOLKATA: A few markets in the city remained over-crowded on Wednesday morning and many even had to shut the gates to regulate the movement of people with the help of police to ensure social distancing norms are not violated. Members of several market associations said the decision to shut markets by 11.30am could have triggered panic among people who reached the markets in droves in the morning fearing they may not be able to buy essential items on time.
At Entally Market, the association of traders had to pause business for a few minutes as social distancing guidelines were being violated. Operations resumed after police extended a helping hand and shoppers were allowed to enter the market in smaller batches. A shop owner in College Street Market said there were altercations between buyers and shop owners owing to the congestion inside the market.
The government on Tuesday had ordered local markets in the city to wrap up business by 11.30am every day after health experts and those in the administration had raised alarm over surging crowds of shoppers at local markets despite lockdown and social distancing measures in place.
Nipendra Kumar Saha, secretary of the Federation of Traders in charge of markets in south Kolkata, including Gariahat, Pal Bazar, Garia, Ranikuthi and Bansdroni, said there was a surge of people in most markets after 10am on Wednesday. “We told respective associations to regulate the crowd and make sure there are no violations of social distancing norms,” said Saha.
“We have been very particular about all the guidelines the police have told us to implement. On Wednesday, as soon as we saw the crowd inside the market surge, we shut the doors and made the buyers stand in a queue outside. Police then helped us let them in smaller batches,” said Tarak Nath Tribedi, general secretary of the Federation of Traders in West Bengal and head of the association at Entally Market.
Many markets opened an hour early at 7am on Wednesday due to the 11.30am deadline. “We did not want the market to get crowded, so we decided to open the market at 7am,” said Bikash Samanta of the Tiretta Bazar Traders’ Association.
Many residents said going to the market to buy vegetables and groceries was becoming a problem for them. “The markets are crowded and there is no transport available to carry home the purchases if we buy in bulk. The cops question if there are more than one person together going to the market. Once person cannot carry multiple bags that are very heavy anyway,” said Daisy Biswas, a resident of Metcalfe Street in Bowbazar.
At Entally Market, the association of traders had to pause business for a few minutes as social distancing guidelines were being violated. Operations resumed after police extended a helping hand and shoppers were allowed to enter the market in smaller batches. A shop owner in College Street Market said there were altercations between buyers and shop owners owing to the congestion inside the market.
The government on Tuesday had ordered local markets in the city to wrap up business by 11.30am every day after health experts and those in the administration had raised alarm over surging crowds of shoppers at local markets despite lockdown and social distancing measures in place.
Nipendra Kumar Saha, secretary of the Federation of Traders in charge of markets in south Kolkata, including Gariahat, Pal Bazar, Garia, Ranikuthi and Bansdroni, said there was a surge of people in most markets after 10am on Wednesday. “We told respective associations to regulate the crowd and make sure there are no violations of social distancing norms,” said Saha.
“We have been very particular about all the guidelines the police have told us to implement. On Wednesday, as soon as we saw the crowd inside the market surge, we shut the doors and made the buyers stand in a queue outside. Police then helped us let them in smaller batches,” said Tarak Nath Tribedi, general secretary of the Federation of Traders in West Bengal and head of the association at Entally Market.
Many markets opened an hour early at 7am on Wednesday due to the 11.30am deadline. “We did not want the market to get crowded, so we decided to open the market at 7am,” said Bikash Samanta of the Tiretta Bazar Traders’ Association.
Many residents said going to the market to buy vegetables and groceries was becoming a problem for them. “The markets are crowded and there is no transport available to carry home the purchases if we buy in bulk. The cops question if there are more than one person together going to the market. Once person cannot carry multiple bags that are very heavy anyway,” said Daisy Biswas, a resident of Metcalfe Street in Bowbazar.
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