Two dozen textile markets shut voluntarily till July 20

Surat: Nearly 35,000 shops located in two dozen textile markets have decided to observe a voluntary lockdown till July 20 considering the sharp rise in Covid-19 cases across the city as well as the textile industry.
These markets are located on the Ring Road, Moti Begumwadi and Sahara Darwaja and they will review the situation on July 20 to decide the future course.
The decision comes at a time when new hotspots are emerging in the city and an average of 200 Covid-19 cases and about 10 deaths being reported daily.
The textile markets including JJ A/C market, NTM, Hira Panna market, Millennium, Surat Textile Market (STM), Ashoka Market, Hariom Market, Sai Ashish Textile Market, Raghukul Textile Market and others have decided on self-imposed closure starting July 15 to July 20.
Krishnan Banka, president of JJ A/c Market on Ring Road told TOI: “We don’t want to risk the lives of our members and increase the spread of the disease in the market”
On Tuesday, there was a series of meetings in other three dozen-odd markets over voluntary lockdown and the decision will be taken on Wednesday.
Rangnath Sarda, president of Ashoka Textile Market said, “We are already under financial stress since there is no business after the lockdown and the outbreak. Looking at the safety of our traders and workers, we have decided to keep the market shut till July 20.”
Few days ago, the Federation of Surat Textile Traders Association (FOSTTA) had appealed to the textile markets for voluntary closure due to the worsening Covid situation.
FOSTTA secretary, Champalal Bothra said, “We welcome the decision taken by the markets to remain shut till July 20. Traders are sitting idle in the market as there is no business. It is better they keep the shops shut and stay at home to protect themselves and their families.
CAIT appeals to close shops by 2pm
Surat: The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) has appealed the traders and merchants in the city to shut their shops by 2pm with the rise in the Covid-19 cases and to contain the spread of the infection. President of CAIT’s Gujarat chapter, Pramod Bhagat stated that Surat has become the coronavirus hotspot of the state and cases are rising day-by-day. For the protection of the traders’ community, CAIT has appealed to shut all the shops in the city by 2pm.