Delhi govt orders closure of Lajpat Nagar market over Covid protocol violation

Rui Mandi in Central Delhi’s Sadar Bazar is also closed. As on Monday, six markets have been shut so far for not adhering to Covid-19 protocols, including the market in east Delhi’s Laxmi Nagar, Gandhi Nagar market, Punjabi Basti market and Nangloi Market

New Delhi: The Delhi government has ordered the closure of all shops in Lajpat Nagar’s Central Market -- a bustling hub for wedding apparel, home upholstery, car accessories, and street food -- over violations of Covid-19 safety protocols.

Lajpat Nagar market around Diwali time last year in November. (File photo)

The government also closed down Rui Mandi — known for its shops dealing in jewellery and cosmetics — in central Delhi’s Sadar Bazar wholesale market citing a similar flouting of norms, weeks after commercial establishments reopened in the city with strict riders after a devastating second wave of infections.

The closure of the two markets, in two separate orders issued on Sunday by the district administrations of south-east and central Delhi, now takes the markets that have been closed down in the city over the past week to six. The other four markets that were previously closed over Covid-19 violations were Laxmi Nagar and Gandhi Nagar markets in east Delhi, the Punjabi Basti and the Nangloi markets in west Delhi.

The Laxmi Nagar market was allowed to reopen on Saturday (July 3).

“An inspection was carried out by the undersigned in Central Market, Lajpat Nagar II, along with Praveer Kumar Singh, SDM (Sarita Vihar) and other members of Covid-19 appropriate behaviour (CAB) enforcement teams deployed in the area, wherein gross violation of CAB (social distancing within the shops as well as overall market place, vendors selling edibles without using adequate precautions, etc.) was observed. In view of the above, it is hereby directed that the market is closed with immediate effect until further orders,” said an order issued by PK Tripathi, additional district magistrate (south-east), announcing the closure of the Lajpat Nagar market.

The district administration asked the Lajat Nagar market association to ensure compliance to Covid-19 appropriate behaviour within a day.

“The Market Trader Association is hereby directed to ensure that all measures for ensuring adherence to Covid-19 Appropriate Behaviour are in place within a day of issuance of the order, whereafter a review shall be taken regarding opening of this segment of the market. Further, the officials of MCD as well Delhi Police are hereby directed that no street side/unauthorised shops are functional within the Lajpat Nagar Market Area,” said the order, a copy of which is with HT.

According to the Delhi Disaster Management Authority’s (DDMA) guidelines, regular markets and weekly markets have to ensure physical distancing of at least six feet among customers as far as possible and promote mask-wearing. It also rules that only asymptomatic persons should be allowed in markets.

The south-east district administration has also issued a showcase notice to the concerned market association.

Ashwani Marwah, general secretary, Lajpat Nagar traders’ association, said nearly 800 shops in the central market were shut on Monday. “Today [on Monday], we met the district magistrate (southeast) and submitted an affidavit stating that all protocols will be followed in letter and spirit. We also said that in case any shop is found violating Covid appropriate behaviour, the administration is free to seal those shops. But, shutting the entire market just because of those violating shops will be too much. Besides, we will also deploy 10 more guards who will patrol the market all day to ensure compliance,” he said.

Sonika Tyagi, a regular visitor of the market said the closure didn’t affect her much. “Since it is just for a day, I do not think anybody will be impacted, whether it’s customers or shopkeepers. I hope people also learn a lesson and wear masks all the time,” she said.

In another order, Arvind Rana, SDM (Kotwali) ordered the closure of the Sadar Bazar Rui Market citing similar safety concerns. The order stated that due to heavy footfall, shopkeepers were unable to adhere to Covid-appropriate behaviour which may “cause super spreading of Covid-19”. The Rui Market will remain closed till Tuesday, or until further orders, whichever is earlier.

Rakesh Kumar Yadav, president of Federation of Sadar Bazar Traders’ Association, said following the SDM’s order, the Delhi police on Monday morning put barricades on all roads and lanes leading to the market. “We want such barricades to remain, and these lanes should be reserved for pedestrians to better manage the crowd. Even before the market was shut, we deployed at least 22 people from our team to go from lane to lane to check social distancing and mask wearing. We have to learn to live with Covid-19 now, but what can we do if hawkers and some visitors continue to violate Covid-19 behaviour,” he said.

Neeraj Malhotra, a trader in the market blamed the closure on the street vendors and hawkers. “We, as shopkeepers, are in a very tricky situation. Rui Mandi is full of hawkers and they do not wear masks and spit all over the place. We try to move them out or request them to follow Covid-19 protocols, but they fight with us. Last year, the district administration deployed civil defence volunteers, but this year there were none, so people were not scared,” he said.

On June 29, the Delhi government ordered the closure of markets in East Delhi’s Laxmi Nagar and adjoining areas until July 5, over the alleged violation of Covid-19 safety protocols. However, the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) allowed reopening of the Laxmi Nagar market and surrounding markets from Saturday, provided Covid-19 appropriate behaviour is strictly followed.

The order to reopen was issued on Friday, following a meeting among DDMA (East), Delhi Police, the MCD and the market association.

On Saturday evening, the subdivisional magistrate of Punjabi Bagh ordered complete closure of the Punjabi Basti and Janta Market in Nangloi due to shopkeepers and the public not following the necessary health protocols. The order, seen by HT, stated that all shops in these two markets will remain completely shut from Sunday to Tuesday, including the weekly off on Monday.

Dr Lalit Kant, former head of epidemiology and infectious disease at ICMR said the actions are in the right direction. “I do not think there is anything wrong. Such actions, even for a day or two, act as a deterrent. Wearing of masks should not be given up at any cost and testing in such crowded places should also be available,” he said.