The commercial markets in Delhi shall remain open after the direct intervention of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and aggressive steps announced by Home Minister Shri Amit Shah after holding a meeting with Delhi LG Shri Anil Baijal and Chief Minister Shri Arvind Kejriwal. However, if the situation warranted the respective Trade Association will take any decision about the respective market either to open the market may be on odd-even or alternate days opening of shops or four day opening and 3 days closing of shops. The decision was taken at a Video Conference meeting of Delhi trade leaders attended by almost 275 trade leaders.
CAIT Secretary General Mr. Praveen Khandelwal thanked Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi for his timely intervention into the state of affairs of Delhi amidst rising Corona cases and the steps taken by Home Minister Amit Shah to get a control on the situation amidst pathetic state of testing and health care facilities in the National capital, after CAIT had written a letter to the Home Minister Amit Shah, Lt Governor of Delhi Mr Anil Baijal, UD Minister Mr Hardeep Puri and Delhi CM Mr Arvind Kejriwal requesting them to step up their efforts in the fight against Corona.
Mr.Khandelwal today speaking on the developments said that over the last 10 days the situation in Delhi had become extremely alarming and there was widespread fear and insecurity among the traders of Delhi who had been making repeated requests to take up the matter urgently with the Centre and State Governments.
This prompted CAIT to conduct a survey of Delhi Traders and discuss the matter with the higher authorities. Mr Khandelwal expressed satisfaction that the efforts paid off as the Prime Minister made a timely intervention and the Home Minister today held fruitful discussions with the State Government. The steps announced by the Home Minister to increase and ramp up contact tracing and testing will definitely prove beneficial as well as the decision to construct makeshift hospitals and medical facilities under the joint supervision of the Central Government will expedite the facilities for Covid patients.
Mr. Khandelwal further said that the recent statement of Delhi CM Shri Arvind Kejriwal about increase of CORONA cases in Delhi upto 5.32 lakhs in July has increased a strong fear not only among traders but even in the mind of general public.
Some markets have decided to close completely till June 30th, some want to operate on alternate days whereas some want to operate for 4 days in a week or have chosen to work on alternate days.
At the meeting of trade leaders, it has been decided that the since each market has different dynamics in terms of wholesale or retail and customer flow is different for each market, the social distancing norms vary from market to market and based on their own perception and number of covid positive cases, Individual markets may take their decision in the best interest of the traders and customers of delhi.
