Chennai: After marathon talks between officials and office-bearers of Koyambedu vegetable, fruits and flower sellers orgnaisation that started Monday and concluded today, it has been decided to allow the functioning of the market with increased restrictions.
Out of the 1900 wholesale shops, only 600 will be allowed to function in the Koyambedu complex, while 450 retail outlets will be shifted to nearby Aminjikarai. This is to prevent overcrowding and ensure social distancing.
On Monday, Greater Chennai Police Commissioner A K Viswanathan warned the wholesale traders that the Koyambedu Vegetable and Fruits market would be closed with more than four persons tested positive for Coronavirus.
He said two retail traders who had come to the market are infected with Coronavirus. A team of officials met the representatives of the wholesale market for shifting some of the shops to a different place to avoid huge crowds.
Speaking after holding a meeting with traders to discuss about the modalities of shifting some of the shops to other locations in the wake of milling crowd thronging the market, Viswanathan, citing reports, said that two retail traders, who came to purchase their daily supplies have tested positive in the market.
Taking exception to non-compliance of social distancing norms, which might lead to more people thronging the market contracting the virus, he said if four or more people in the market test positive for COVID-19, then the market would have to be closed.
Stating the social distancing norms were not at all maintained in the market eversince the lockdown came into force to prevent spread of the COVID pandemic, Viswanathan said the sellers were indulging in retail sale of veggies and fruits under the guise of wholesale selling.
“If four or more persons tested positive, then the entire market will have to be closed”, he added.
State Agriculture Secretary Gagandeep Singh Bedi, Chennai Corporation Commissioner G Prakash and other officials took part in the meeting held with traders after two traders tested positive.
It may be recalled that despite several measures being put in place by the police and corporations, including restrictions on movement of vehicles and offloading of vegetables and fruits from other states, retailers from the city and suburbs throng in large numbers right from early in the morning for their daily supplies.