MAPUSA: In a notice to the Mapusa Municipal Council (MMC) Chief Officer, Bardez Deputy Collector Kapil Phadte has directed the closure of the weekly Friday market in the town.
Phadte’s notice to the MMC CO comes after the North Goa Collector’s order to shut the weekly market.
In the notice, Phadte stated that the weekly market will remain closed. However, the fish and municipal markets will be allowed to function only with proper arrangements to enforce COVID appropriate behaviour such as social distancing, use of face masks, etc.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Collector held a meeting with DySP Gajanan Prabhudesai, PI Tushar Lotlikar, representatives of Mapusa taxi unions, pilots, merchants and other stakeholders.
He explained to the stakeholders the order issued by the North Collector and the need to follow the SOPs since they directly interact with the public.
Phadte said, “The meeting of all the stakeholders including merchants, taximen, pilots and others was convened to explain the order issued by the North Collector since they interact with the public directly. A team of Mapusa Police, staff of Deputy Collector’s office and Mapusa municipality will monitor the area, take action and book those who violate COVID norms”.
After the meeting, the Mapusa Merchants’ Association members decided to keep their shops shut.
“The North Goa Collector has issued the order which states that shops and establishments will remain open. However, we feel that in this order, the lockdown meaning is deflated. If everything is kept open then how will the chain break? The stakeholders are of the view that they will voluntarily keep the shops shut during the lockdown”, said Ashish Shirodkar, president of Mapusa Merchants’ Association.
At another meeting, Phadte briefed the MLAs on the lockdown, the measures to be taken and guidelines to be followed.
The meeting was attended by MLAs namely Glenn Ticlo, Jayesh Salgaonkar and Vinod Palyekar, Deputy Collector Bardez II Mamu Hage, Mapusa PI Tushar Lotlikar, mamlatdar Laxmikant Kuttikar and others.
