Bhubaneswar: The Unit 4 non-vegetarian market (wholesale and retail) was sealed on Sunday to contain any possibility of the spread of the virus due to mass violation of COVID appropriate behaviour during the shutdown period.
The Bhubaneswar Municipal Commission (BMC) enforcement squads found many counters in wholesale and retail sale areas open around 8.20 am when the shutdown was in force. People were also found without masks.
“This has become a norm here and the city might witness a rise in COVID cases as a consequence of such behaviour. The market was earlier closed from June 18 to July 1 for the same reason. Last week, a few shops were found open and they were closed following a discussion with the market committee,” said BMC Commissioner Sanjay Singh.
The market has been shut for an indefinite period, he added.
The areas covering retail and wholesale non-veg markets have been barricaded.
City denizens are not allowed to the non-veg markets and have been requested to strictly adopt the COVID protocol to lower the burden of the disease in the city.
Additional Commissioner, BMC Laxmikanta Sethi, Zonal Deputy Commissioner of South East Zone Ansuman Ratha and Assistant Commissioner Enforcement Lilan Prasad Sahoo were on the spot during enforcement.
The area was sealed but no fine was imposed on any counter, BMC sources added.
Bhubaneswar is among the three cities with a high COVID caseload in Odisha, where the weekend shutdown is still being imposed to break the infection chain.
