MAPUSA
With a focus to revive the economy, the Mapusa city-fathers decided to abandon the conservative approach to Covid-19 infection and open the municipal market to pre-Covid times.
The council has also decided to take all possible precautions and observe all guidelines to prevent spread of Covid-19 infection.
“We are opening the municipal market including the Friday (Mapusa) market as it was before the start of Covid-19 pandemic with proper restrictions. We will ensure that Covid guidelines like wearing of masks and social distancing is maintained in the market,” said Ryan Braganza, Chairperson of Mapusa Municipal Council (MMC).
At the outset, MMC Market Chairman Sushant Harmalkar moved a resolution at the council meeting to open the municipal market and set the wheels of economic activity into motion.
“The market which was closed at the start of the pandemic on March 22, should be fully opened to revive the economic activity in the main Mapusa market. Several businessmen complained of lack of business and the only way to kick-start the economy is to restart the market as before,” Harmalkar said.
Advising caution while reopening the market, councillor Tushar Tople said the municipal employees will have to ensure that everyone followed the standard operating procedures fixed by the central government to stop the spread of Covid. “The decision to open the Friday market should be done with a careful approach. We should not take the decision in a rash manner,” Tople warned.
He also said vendors should be allowed to do business as per the report prepared by the town vending committee to avoid overcrowding.
During the lockdown, the Mapusa civic body had allowed several vendors to sell vegetables and fruits in every ward of the council.
Although the restrictions imposed during the lockdown have been removed, several vendors continue selling their stuff at the outskirts of the town and at various spots in the wards. “Since goods are available in their wards, people don’t come to the market and this in turn hurts the prospects of the vendors and businessmen in the municipal market. These vendors at the outskirts and wards should be stopped,” said Sudhir Kandokar, senior councillor.
“The gates put up inside the market and the new parking plan also hampers the prospects of the businessmen in the market,” he added.
Senior councillor, Sandip Falari opined that due to pandemic the economic activity had come down and it was high time the market was opened as before.
“While opening the market we should see that the Covid cases don’t spiral. The municipal inspectors and the team should be vigilant to implement the SoPs properly,” Falari said.
