Diamond merchants claim SOP for markets impractical

Surat: The Surat Diamond Merchants’ Association (SDMA) has opposed the new standard operating procedure (SOP) issued by the Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) to contain spread of Covid-19 and called it impractical.
The civic body had issued fresh SOP for the diamond markets located in Varachha and Mahidharpura on Wednesday to allow the diamond markets to reopen after one week of closure starting from July 10.
The diamond merchants stated that the SOP has allowed the diamond markets to operate only for four hours starting from 2pm to 6pm. Majority of the trading and transactions are done in the market from 10 am to 2 pm and the merchants and brokers take the lunch break from 2pm to 4pm.
President of SDMA, Nandlal Nakrani told TOI, “We can’t operate the business based on the SOP issued by the SMC. Merchants are fuming as they are allowed to keep offices open for only four hours. Also, traders have to keep foot operated wash basin and sanitisers outside their offices, install exhaust fans etc.”
According to Nakrani, the SDMA has called for a meeting of its members on Friday to discuss the further course of action with regard to the new SOP issued by SMC.
Both the Varachha and Mahidhapura diamond markets have about 4,000 diamond merchants. Majority of the diamond offices are located in the Mahidharpura diamond market from where the trading of rough and polished diamonds is carried out.
At the Varachha market, merchants trade the fancy-cut diamonds.