Goa market sees brisk business without hiccups

PANAJI: A strange anxiety was palpable in the Panaji municipal market for the first time in recent memory as shops opened for business early Tuesday in the backdrop of the lockdown. There was no commotion, as shopkeepers and buyers went about in near grim silence.
Vendors entered the market at 5am and by 5.30am buyers started lining up outside. Of the 400-odd stalls and stores in the municipal market complex, only 40% opened.Outside, only food and grocery stores were operational.
“Most of the grocery items are overpriced and in limited quantity. We have to eat to survive so we have no other option, but to purchase food at the price being quoted,” shopper Afzal Bawanwar said.
Aware of the gravity of the situation, many shoppers were seen moving around with either masks or handkerchiefs on their face. Purchasing was carried out smoothly without any law and order situation.
“There were no fights or stampede. We had made announcements and the government carried out necessary awareness. People are also well informed about the situation,” PSI Manjunath Naik told TOI.
Some police constables stood outside the building, while some stood on the first floor along with CCP mayor Uday Madkaikar and monitored the situation .
“Those who were rushing, gathering into a group to purchase from the same vendor or on the verge of touching each other were told to maintain adequate distance. Our main objective is to avoid people touching each other,” Naik said.
While some buyers engaged in panic buying, others shopped limited quantities of items with a long shelf life, like pulses and rice. The fish and meat markets were emptied even before the 11am deadline. Shoppers, who came in post 10am, were left high and dry. “If there is nothing available, what will people come out and buy. They must ensure that people don’t go hungry,” a shopper said.
At about 10.45am, a siren went off indicating that it was time for shoppers to disperse. Vendors hurriedly shut shop in the next fifteen minutes while police gathered at the gates to seal them.
Rohit Naik, a resident of Tonca said, “The government should’ve been very clear about markets being closed. Many people adhered to the PM’s appeal to avoid panic buying and as a result we did not stock up. Besides, the state government is taking sudden decisions of lockdown without considering the consequences.”