Vadodara: Nearly 200 shops selling woollen garments and other clothings at Kala Bhavan Ground were shut down by the authorities on Wednesday afternoon as the shops didn’t have the police permission to operate from the sprawling plot right opposite Navlakhi Compound.
Interestingly, while the police claimed that the Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) gave order to shut down the shops, the civic officials passed the buck to the police.
Assistant municipal commissioner, Suresh Tuver said that VMC teams had gone to the market at around 11 am to ensure that social distancing is followed there. “We did not order it to close down. There were some issues regarding permissions due to which the police took action,” he said.
When contacted, Raopura police inspector, V N Mahida said, “The VMC has issued an order to shut down the market as it didn’t have necessary permission. We just offered security.” Mahida said that the shops didn’t have police permission for operating from the ground.
“They have got NOC from the fire brigade and the VMC but the permission from PWD is yet to arrive. The shops have applied for police permission but we can’t give it until the PWD gives NOC too. Once they get all permissions, the police department will take a decision,” Mahida told TOI.
The Kala Bhavan ground hosts a big market of woollen clothes during the winters every year and thousands of Barodians throng the shops to buy quality garments at affordable prices.
It is called Tibetan market as most of the shops selling winter clothing are run by the Tibetans who stay in the city for a few months. But due to Covid-19 pandemic, the Tibetans didn’t arrive in the city this time. Hence, traders from Punjab and Uttar Pradesh set up the shops on this ground and were doing a brisk business.