the goan I network
MAPUSA
The novel coronavirus scare coupled with a series of directions from the Mapusa civic body had an immediate impact on the popular Friday market in Mapusa, as the municipal market sported a deserted look unlike the normal weekly market which is packed to capacity.
Outstation vendors were not allowed to do business in the market while the fish market saw far less number of vendors.
In view of the precautionary measures undertaken in view of COVID-19, the municipality staff refused entry to vegetable vendors who had travelled from border states, particularly from Belagavi.
Quite a few of local vendors from outside Mapusa were also not allowed to do business. At least eight trucks loaded with vegetables and around 60 vendors were not allowed entry by the alert municipality staff that was posted in the market since early morning. Several fish vendors kept away from the market as a section of the fish market was completely deserted.
“At least 50-60% of the fish vendors did not come to the market,” a municipality staff in the know informed. However, regular market was open to cater to the customers visiting the market. “It was definitely not the normal Friday market where one could see chaos. It was like any other normal day,” a regular market goer said.
Mapusa Municipal Council (MMC) Chairperson Ryan Braganza informed that the civic body had decided to take precautionary measures on account of the novel coronavirus.
“As part of the measures, we had decided to decongest the market and therefore Friday bazaar was not allowed. Entry of outstation vendors was disallowed but regular market continued to remain open,” Braganza said.
