KMC takes another step to curb gathering in markets

Kolkata: In a significant step in reducing gathering inside markets maintained by Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) the civic body is making the makeshift vegetable vendors sit on the roadside adjacent to the markets.

Some local farmers who grow vegetables on their own or their family members come to the KMC market daily for selling. The vegetables available are usually fresh and people love to buy from them. They occupy space inside the markets which are permitted under normal circumstances.

"Due to the prevalent COVID-19 situation across the country maintaining distance is of utmost importance. So we have asked them to move out from inside the market space to the side of the nearby road and sell their vegetables. This will prevent gathering inside the market premises. Only some vehicles are plying on the road so it is not a problem if they encroach upon the roadside. The local police station is helping us in this," said Amiruddin (Bobby), Member Mayor in Council, Market.

Mayor Firhad Hakim on Saturday held a meeting with the market department and instructed the concerned officials to keep a strict vigil of the markets to ensure that distancing is maintained while buying and selling of things. Amiruddin himself has been paying visits to two to three markets in the city on a regular basis from Sunday. He visited the Santoshpur market and the Bansdroni market on Tuesday.

The market superintendents have been asked to maintain regular vigil of the markets which has been demarcated in three zones. There are 16

such market superintendents of KMC. Initially, they were working from home. But now they are paying ground visits.

"We have made arrangements for announcement through microphones in all our markets with the help of the local police station to ensure maintaining of distance. Security guards are offering sanitiser to customers when they are entering the market. The markets are also being sanitised daily," Amiruddin said.

There are 47 markets in the city maintained by the KMC among which 16 are garment markets which are now closed.