MARGAO
The Margao Municipal Council is bracing up to implement Covid safety norms in the city’s municipal markets with cases on the rise.
After a meeting with the traders of Municipal markets and representatives of taluka Mamlatdar and police, MMC Chief Officer Agnelo Fernandes informed that the civic body has decided to spread awareness in the markets by way of pre-recorded announcement in the peak hours.
The civic body will also place a sound system with messages at the market gates and wholesale market area as part of the awareness drive, he added.
The Salcete Mamlatdar will assist the municipality in the law and order situation. All the shop owners must ensure strict compliance of wearing masks, keeping a safe distance between them and customers by placing barricades in front of the shops and follow the queue system.
The Chief Officer has directed the police and the MMC Market inspectors to undertake thorough checks at the market entry points. He also directed the market associations to ensure that the staff dealing and serving customers wear masks and maintain social distance.
“The shop owners should not allow full house inside their shops and regulate the entry of people at a time to avoid crowding,” he stated. While asserting that the market passages and footpaths should remain open within the market, the Chief Officer said instructions have been given to ensure a smooth passage.
As far as the open food carts/ gaddas, veg food carts are concerned, the Chief Officer said that these have been asked to follow minimum standard SOP and requested all the shops to compulsorily place sanitizers for the use of customers.
To a question, he said the MMC will discuss the suggestion of the traders for exemptions in taxes during the pandemic, saying it will take a call on waiving garbage fees from the traders during the pandemic.
