States »SoutPosted at: May 23 2021 5:56PM Ahead of total lockdown, people flock markets, grocery stores, veg prices hit the roof
Chennai, May 23 (UNI) With the Tamil Nadu government announcing
one week total and complete lockdown from tomorrow, there was a fear
of markets turning 'super spreaders' as a large number of people the
markets and grocery stores to stock up essentials on Sunday.
Throwing the social distancing norms to wind, people unmindful of the
rising COVID cases--several of them without wearing masks--thronged
the market areas across the state, triggering fears of these places turning
out to be a potential super spreader.
As part of restricted lockdown from May 10 to 24 morning, the State
government allowed opening of vegetable and grocery stores from
0600 hrs to 1000 hrs.
As the spread of the virus was yet to be brought under control,
Chief Minister M K Stalin after holding discussions with medical
and healthcare experts, announced full lockdown for a week from
tomorrow without any relaxations.
Since all vegetable and grocery stores will be completely shut,
Mr Stalin, with a view to enable people stock their necessary
essentials for a week, announced that all shops will be open
till 2100 hrs yesterday and today.
Soon after the announcement, several shops opened their shutters
last evening and people started queuing up. Some shops also ran
out of stock.
The scene was no different on Sunday as a large number of people
thronged the shops to purchase the essentials without following the
physical distancing norms, despite the state government making it
clear that vegetables and fruits would be supplied through mobile
vehicles in their areas for the next one week in coordination with
the local bodies.
There was mad crowd in fish markets and those selling meat as
thousands of people jostled for space, without heeding to the
warnings given by the police.
'Make hay while the sun shines' goes a popular saying. And true
to this, vegetable, fruit and flower vendors cashed in on the chance
and hiked the rates manifold as the prices of vegetables hit the roof.
The prices of tomato, which was sold at Rs 10 per kg yesterday,
shot up to Rs 70 to Rs 80, while that of beans even crossed the
Rs 200 mark per kg from Rs 50 to 60.
The lower and middle class who felt the pinch said the prices of
all vegetables and fruits have been increased four to five times.
''But we have no other alternative as we have to stock up vegetables
for the next one week", one of the person in West Mambalam, who
came to buy vegetables, said in an exasperated tone.
As there has been artificial increase in the prices of vegetables,
Food Minister Sakkarapani warned of action against those selling
vegetables at higher prices.
The unprecedented increase in prices of vegetables invited criticism
in the social media.
Many people took to Twitter and blamed the state government for
introducing the total lockdown in a hurry making Sunday shopping
a "super spreader" event.
Several people were shocked to see such a mad crowd in markets,
fish and meat stalls.
Visibly annoyed over the milling crowd, a senior citizen said ''see the
crowd. If one has COVID symptoms, imagine how many people will
be infected".
''If the health department take tests of thousands of people who have
thronged the market places across the state, definitely there will be
huge rise in positive cases", he said.
PMK founder Dr S Ramadoss had a dig at the government and said the
weekends relaxations has resulted in mass crowd gathering and has
defeated the very purpose of the intense lockdown commencing from
tomorrow.
In a tweet, he said the relaxations have proved dangerous and added
that people are crowding in shops and markets, which would lead to
spread of COVID-19.
He also termed as 'unnecessary' operating long distance bus services
as it would result in exporting the infection from one district to another.
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