Four textile markets shut on Ring Road due to rise in Covid-19 cases in Surat

SURAT: With the surge in the Covid-19 cases, about four textile markets on Ring Road were shut by the Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) till further notice to contain the spread of the infection on Monday.
Official sources said that four textile markets including JJ textile market, Surat Textile Market (STM), Millennium textile market and Raghukul textile markets were shut by the civic officials after more than three Covid-19 cases were detected among the textile shop owners and workers in the last few days.
In a notification issued on Monday, civic chief Banchhanidhi Pani stated that the textile markets, textile powerloom units etc. will be shut for seven days in the case where one or more Covid-19 cases would be detected.
A senior SMC officer said, “The four textile markets on Ring Road have been vacated and sealed for about seven days due to the spread of coronavirus infection among the workers and textile shop owners. The markets have been shut for seven days starting from Monday. If cases are found from other markets, they will be dealt with same action”
The action has come after Chief Minister Vijay Rupani had visited the city on Saturday to review the situation following the surge in the Covid-19 cases in the city. Rupani had stated that the administration will be taking decision on the operation of the textile and diamond markets on Monday.
In a meeting with the senior authorities of the SMC, Navsari MP CR Paatil and the Federation of Surat Textile Traders Association (FOSTTA) on Sunday evening, it was decided to allow the textile markets to operate with stricter norms including social distancing, compulsory mask, regular sanitisation etc.
Secretary of FOSTTA, Champalal Bothra told TOI, “The markets not following the norms and where the Covid-19 cases would be detected will have to be shut for seven days. We have urged the textile market managements to strictly following the guidelines issued by the civic body and the state government.”