Pune: City-based traders have decided to support the lockdown imposed in the city after receiving an assurance from officials to resolve the problems faced by the trader community and give them some relaxation later in the month.

Representatives of the Federation of Traders Association of Pune (FATP) including President Fattechand Ranka and Secretary Mahendra Pitaliya, Divisional Commissioner Dr Deepak Mhaisekar, Special Officer Saurabh Rao, Pune Police Commissioner Dr K Venkatesham, District Collector Naval Kishore Ram, Pune Municipal Commissioner Vikram Kumar, Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Commissioner Shravan Hardikar, Superintendent of Police (Pune Rural) Sandeep Patil, Additional Commissioner of Police Ashok Morale, Deputy Commissioner of Police Bachchan Singh were present during the meeting.

Ranka and Pitaliya said, “About 10 lakh citizens depend on the trader community for their livelihoods. The prolonged lockdown has created many problems for the traders in the city. If the administration officials try to understand these problems and help us overcome them, then we will support the lockdown.”

Saurabh Rao said, “Traders are the pillars of the economy of our cities. But customers visiting the shops are seen not wearing masks and not following social distancing norms. This is a major reason for rising COVID-19 cases in the city.”

“The administration is not taking any action against traders out of vendetta. The FATP has always cooperated with the administration and we expect the same during this hour of crisis too,” Rao added.

Dr Mhaisekar expressed his satisfaction about the fact that the trader community has supported the administration and they will continue to do so hereafter.

Collector Ram said, “The transmission of coronavirus happens through human to human close contact. Lockdown was a need of the hour because people were crowding at shops. Traders should cooperate with the administration to break this chain of transmission.”

The administration officials have said that they will consider what relaxations can be given in the present lockdown after the sixth day (July 19). This decision will be based on the assessment of the number of COVID-19 cases in the city.