the goan I network
MARGAO
After the Gandhi Market, the district authorities on Tuesday ordered the complete shut down of the Margao Municipal New Market “ the business nerve centre of the commercial capital.
Hundreds of citizens, who had made a beeline outside the New Market with the hope of laying their hands on groceries and food items, were left disappointed after the authorities moved in with CISF and Goa Police personnel to shut down the market.
Confusion prevailed for some time over the closure of the market on Tuesday morning. While Margao Municipal Council Chief Officer, AjitPanchwadkar, who has been designated as the Incident Commander by the District Magistrate, South, for COVID-19, ordered the shut down of the New Market.
When the news of the closure was brought to the notice of the MMC Chairperson Pooja Naik, she ordered the market inspectors to re-open the market.
The MMC Chairperson wondered how the CO could shut down the market when the district authorities had allowed the sale of groceries and essential items during the lockdown.
In the meantime, many of the traders had already downed their shutters and the police and CISF personnel started manning the gates.
It was only on Tuesday that South Goa District Collector, Ajit Roy, told the MMC Chairperson that opening of market places have still not been cleared by the Ministry of Home Affairs and any such opening will be in violation of the lockdown provision.
The MMC Chairperson later told the media that the New Market will now remain closed till the lockdown is lifted on May 3.
