MAPUSA
Despite fears of the third wave, the Mapusa Municipal Council has decided to hold the ‘matoli bazaar’ in the main municipal market ostensibly to boost economic activity and for the convenience of the people.
However, the civic body has warned overcrowding will not be allowed and precautions will be taken to ensure that everyone including the vendors follow all Covid-related protocols.
The entire lane opposite the Shakuntala sculpture from Nasnodkar Jewellers till J K Wines will be reserved for the vendors dealing with matoli goods while all other vendors dealing with clothes, fancy artifacts and fire-crackers will be shifted along the Aram Soda line opposite the taxi-stand.
The entire first lane at the entrance of the municipal market will be utilised for parking and no vendors will be allowed on that stretch.
Other vendors like the fruit sellers will continue to operate from their present location in the municipal market.
Last year, the council had made an elaborate arrangement of holding the matoli bazaar at different spots around the town in order to avoid crowding in the market.
“We have realised that controlling and managing the matoli bazaar at one place is much more convenient then holding it at 10 different places,” said Viraj Phadke, chairman of the market committee of Mapusa Municipal Council.
“Besides, the MLA and the chairperson have taken adequate steps to hold the matoli bazaar in the municipal market for the convenience of everyone,” he added.
He said the civic body has taken care to ensure that all vendors maintain social distancing and wear masks.
“Every vendor will be provided a hand sanitizer which can be used by the vendors and the consumers visiting him,” he said.
He further informed that Market Inspectors will monitor the situation on the ground so that overcrowding does not take place.
Phadte said the council took into consideration that maximum people in the State have been vaccinated and were much better prepared to face the virus compared to last year.
We don’t want third wave: MMA warns on following strict SOPs
MAPUSA: If the Mapusa civic body can manage the show and prevent a surge in the market then we welcome the decision but we definitely don’t want a third wave, said President of Mapusa Merchants Association, Ashish Shirodkar even as he warned that no one should lower their guard during the pandemic. “Obviously, the business should go on but we certainly don’t want a third wave,” Shirodkar said.
He said the Mapusa Municipal Council should ensure that enough civic officials are present in the market to control the crowd.
The MMA chief also urged the people not to visit the market in groups and to follow all the Covid-related guidelines properly. “All the merchants and consumers visiting the market should maintain the SOPs while carrying out business and marketing,” he said.
