Market Building In Odisha Capital Sealed

Bhubaneswar: A day after closing 15 shops for COVID-19 guidelines violation, the Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) and Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Friday sealed the market building complex at Unit-2 in the Odisha capital.

The market complex and the adjacent area were closed in the presence of police force due to violation of social distance norms, informed BMC ZDC Anshuman Rath.

All prescribed norms to contain the spread of COVID-19 were allegedly flouted by shop owners and people, who turned up in large numbers at the market complex for Raja shopping ahead of the weekend shutdown.

The shop keepers have also been fined for the violations, he added.

On Thursday, Amber Saree Store in the city’s Janpath, Bhai Tiffin Centre at Ravi Talkies Square and an OMFED booth at Ekamra Road were closed for violating social distancing protocol and other COVID-19 guidelines.

Lingaraj Lassi Sarbat Stall, Sports Emporium, FAB India showroom and two small hotels at Sahid Nagar, were also sealed for similar violations.

Earlier on Wednesday, BMC had issued an advisory to denizens to finish their shopping for the upcoming Raja festival before Friday evening to avoid the last-minute rush.

It also advised people to go for online shopping.

For festival shopping, people have been asked to choose the lean period and avoid crowded markets/shops.

“Everyone must strictly follow the physical distancing norms while going out for shopping/marketing and wear mask,” a notification issued by BMC said.

The shop owners were also been asked to strictly adhere to COVID-19 guidelines, including maintaining of social distancing norms.