VADODARA: In a major turnaround, the civic body has permitted shops in the city to operate normally from Monday. The decision was taken during a joint meeting of the Vadodara Vepar Vikas Association (VVVA), Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) officials, Vadodara BJP MP, Ranjan Bhatt and city BJP chief Dr Vijay Shah on Sunday. Also, no shops, if found flouting Covid-19 guidelines, will be sealed.
The traders were upset after VMC suddenly decided to shut down busy markets like Mangal Bazaar, Kadak Bazaar, fruit and flower market that witnessed heavy rush for three days. “The shopkeepers have already suffered huge losses during the lockdown. Now another shutdown will inflict even more problems. So, we decided to make a presentation to the government,” said Paresh Parikh, convenor, VVVA.
The association members met BJP leaders on Sunday and also expressed their concerns to Dr Vinod Rao, officer on special duty (OSD) for Covid-19. “The wedding season has just begun, so keeping shops closed would put further financial stress on the traders.
The authorities have permitted us to open shops from Monday. We have promised the civic body to follow all the guidelines strictly,” Parikh told TOI.
“Also, it has been decided that if found violating Covid-19 guidelines, shops will be can penalize the owners for flouting rules.
It will not seal the shops,” Parikh said, adding that the traders’ body has been opposing the sealing of shops for the past 10 days.
The civic body on Saturday cracked down on the malls and shops that were flouting the guidelines. Three malls and one superstore was sealed apart from some shops.
On Sunday, the busy markets like Mangal Bazaar, Nava Bazaar and Kadak Bazaar bore a deserted look. Most of the traders didn’t dare to open their shops as they feared action by the civic body. Constant announcements warning the shop-owners to keep the shutters down were also made in the old city markets.
“The traders had been facing losses and such crackdown only increased our problems. The decision to re-open shops has come as a relief for us,” said Jay Thakore, president of Mangal Bazaar Shops Association.