CHENNAI: Any market in Chennai city that does not follow norms on social distancing and use of face masks will be summarily shut, Greater Chennai Corporation commissioner G Prakash has warned. The authorities are also mulling heavy monetary penalties for those violating norms.
Monitoring committees have been formed to regulate the 70 markets in city limits and efforts are on to install CCTV (Closed Circuit Television) camerasto continuously monitor whether traders and the public wear masks and maintain physical distancing, Prakash said on Saturday.
An assistant engineer with the city corporation, a sub-inspector from the local police, and members from the market and other departments will be part of the committees, which will assess the functioning of their markets every day. Special teams from the revenue and disaster management department will also supervise the functioning of markets.
“All these teams will observe the functioning of markets regularly and file periodical reports. All departments will have to work together as a team,” Prakash said.
Youngsters do not take face masks seriously: Corporation chief
Chennai corporation commissioner G Prakash said an informal survey by the civic body has shown that about 70 –75 % of the population wears masks. “Ruthless enforcement is the way. We have to ensure that the entire population wears masks,” Prakash said and added that it is the younger population that is not taking ‘mask wearing’ seriously. They should understand that it is important for them to wear masks to protect the elderly at home.
Civic body had also held meetings with officials from civil supply departments to ensure that token system is adhered to in all ration shops in the city. There are 1,761 ration shops in the city.
The commissioner noted that for the 11th continuous day, there has been a downward trend in number of positive cases in the city because of the intense lockdown and doubling of testing. To sustain this downward trend, it is possible only if there is strict enforcement, the commissioner said and added that they are also considering strict monetary penalty for flouting norms.
Monitoring committees have been formed to regulate the 70 markets in city limits and efforts are on to install CCTV (Closed Circuit Television) camerasto continuously monitor whether traders and the public wear masks and maintain physical distancing, Prakash said on Saturday.
An assistant engineer with the city corporation, a sub-inspector from the local police, and members from the market and other departments will be part of the committees, which will assess the functioning of their markets every day. Special teams from the revenue and disaster management department will also supervise the functioning of markets.
“All these teams will observe the functioning of markets regularly and file periodical reports. All departments will have to work together as a team,” Prakash said.
Youngsters do not take face masks seriously: Corporation chief
Chennai corporation commissioner G Prakash said an informal survey by the civic body has shown that about 70 –75 % of the population wears masks. “Ruthless enforcement is the way. We have to ensure that the entire population wears masks,” Prakash said and added that it is the younger population that is not taking ‘mask wearing’ seriously. They should understand that it is important for them to wear masks to protect the elderly at home.
Civic body had also held meetings with officials from civil supply departments to ensure that token system is adhered to in all ration shops in the city. There are 1,761 ration shops in the city.
The commissioner noted that for the 11th continuous day, there has been a downward trend in number of positive cases in the city because of the intense lockdown and doubling of testing. To sustain this downward trend, it is possible only if there is strict enforcement, the commissioner said and added that they are also considering strict monetary penalty for flouting norms.
Get the app