New Delhi: The Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi Government on Friday ordered shops/ street vendors in Sarojini Nagar Market to follow odd-even operations for the weekend of December 25 and December 26 amid the growing threats of the Coronavirus. “The Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) is satisfied that the NCT of Delhi is threatened with the spread of COVID-19 epidemic, which has already been declared as a pandemic by the World Health Organization and has considered it necessary to take effective measures to prevent its spread and issued various orders/instructions from time to time to all authorities concerned to take all required measures to appropriately deal with the situation in NCT of Delhi,” the order reads.
Important Takeaways from the order:
- It is evident that a new variant of COVID-19 virus namely Omicron has emerged significantly which has been declared a variant of concern by WHO, which is at least three times more transmissible than the delta variant as informed by MOHFW; and there has been a persistent rise in COVID-19 cases (including 76 cases of Omicron) in NCT of Delhi during last few days;
- Market Trade Associations (MTA), shall also be responsible for ensuring compliance of COVID Appropriate Behaviour by all shops, markets, market complexes within their respective areas. All District Magistrates, District DCPs and other authorities concerned shall take strict action against the defaulting persons, as per the applicable laws and rules, including closure of such establishments;
- increasing footfalls are seen in Sarojini Nagar market during last few days, and therefore with the need to control the same in light of the rapid spike in daily cases and positivity, it was decided unanimously by all Market Trade Associations in the meeting held on 24 December 2021, to follow odd-even operations for weekend of 25 & 26 December 2021;
- In exercise of powers conferred under section 33 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, the undersigned, in his capacity as Incident Commander, Vasant Vihar, New Delhi District, hereby directs that in order to prevent the market from becoming a super spreader for Covid-19, shops/street vendors in Sarojini Nagar Market shall follow odd-even operations for weekend of 25 & 26 December 2021.
Earlier today, the Delhi High Court said on Friday took note of overcrowding in Sarojini Nagar market which had witnessed a bomb blast in the past. The state of affairs, be it Covid or non-Covid, is “frightening” as people are “flowing like a river” which could lead to stampede and death of hundreds, the Delhi High Court observed.
The court said whether there is Covid or not, people have to remain alert and made it clear that if there is any death because of COVID-19 infection or stampede in the Sarojini Nagar market, then the officials of the authorities concerned, NDMC and Delhi Police, will be personally held liable for it.
The court also issued contempt notice against officials of New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) for not complying with its earlier orders on removal of encroachment from the market, including illegal vendors and their goods.
It also asked the Delhi Police and Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) to work out a movement plan for the public in the market and asked the NDMC and other authorities to ensure there is no overcrowding. It further directed the DDMA to make a visit to the market forthwith and assess the situation in view of the prevailing situation of the pandemic.
