Nagpur: Day one of the 25-day lockdown resembled any routine day with a stream of vehicles on the streets and markets teeming with people on Tuesday.
Traders in some parts of Nagpur city staged protests against the new restrictions imposed by the state government and the Nagpur Municipal Corporation in view of the surging Covid-19 cases. “We can no longer survive if business activities are suspended,” shopkeepers told the administration on Tuesday.
Some said that the ‘partial restrictive measures’ or ‘stricter curbs’ were nothing short of a complete lockdown and a wordplay by the government.
The traders’ protest was more pronounced in the commercial pockets of the city including Itwari, Mominpura, Sitabuldi, Jaripatka among others. The police had a tough time to convince the agitated shopkeepers to shut shops in view of the lockdown order.
Tehsil police took action against two shopkeepers under section 188 of the IPC for keeping their shops opened.
Unlike previous restrictions imposed last year and in March, market areas were abuzz with shopkeepers and their staff gathered outside their shops. Roads too witnessed regular traffic and streets in Itwari, Mominpura, Mahal witnessed the usual traffic jam.
On Monday, NMC had replicated the state government’s announcement of a partial lockdown from 8pm from Monday till April 30, with complete shutdown on weekends, stricter night curfew and prohibition of assembly of more than five people during daytime.
As part of the enforcement of the order, municipal commissioner Radhakrishnan B directed shops and establishments dealing in non-essential commodities, restaurants, eateries, malls, theatres, multiplexes and religious places to remain shut till April 30.
Shopkeepers from Itwari, Mominpura and Sitabuldi areas staged demonstrations and also indulged in heated arguments with the police over the lockdown. “We had been cooperating with the administration since last year. This lockdown is unacceptable as only non-essential shops were once again targeted as if we are responsible for surge in Covid-19 cases,” said Madhur Jain a readymade garment shopkeeper from Itwari.
DCP Lohit Matani, senior inspector Jayesh Bhandarkar along with assistant municipal commissioner Ashok Patil had a tough time convincing the shopkeepers to obey the ‘partial lockdown’ order. Sensing trouble, additional police force including rapid action force too were called in Itwari area. Shopkeepers shut shops after being warned of action.
We understand that the rising Covid cases was a matter of concern for both the administration and people and also understand the need for remedial measures. But we have already faced huge losses during the lockdown and the restrictions imposed in subsequent months. Weekends are the time when we get to earn. If we remain shut we will face a difficult situation in paying staff salary, rent, bills and taxes, miffed shopkeepers said.
Traders from Mominpura called the ‘partial lockdown’ discriminatory. They wanted blanket closure of all business activities or none. “If we can keep our shops open, we can earn bread and our employees get their wage,” said Rafique Aziz, a shopkeeper from Mominpura.
Apart from traders, a delegation of hawkers from Sitabuldi Hawkers Welfare Association led by its president Gopichand Ambhore also met deputy commissioner of police Vanita Sahu.
Sanjay Tabootwala of Nagpur district general merchant association said if these curbs keep on compelling us to suspend business, then businessmen would be finished off.
Similarly, Ashok Sanghvi of Chamber of Association of Maharashtra industry and trade said from where businessmen will bring money to pay taxes. Daulat Kungwani and Thakurdas Jethwani of Jaripatka Dukandar Sangh said if some relaxations are not provided the non-essential traders will face huge losses.
TOI also spotted rampant violations by autorickshaw and four-wheeler drivers — autorickshaws were seen carrying more than two passengers, while four-wheelers flouted the 50% passenger cap. However, Aapli buses were seen plying with 50% capacity during the day.