Vegetable market sealed in T Nagar as vendors sidestep social distancing

According to a joint release issued by Kodambakkam zone of the civic body and T Nagar range of city police, both customers and vegetable vendors had failed to follow social distancing at the temporary market.

Earlier, the Chennai Corporation had shifted around 100 vegetable shops functioning in T Nagar to a civic body playground on Venkata Narayana Road. Apart from removing the vegetable shops from the ground, the officials had locked the ground so that no illegal sales happen there.

Following the COVID-19 outbreak, the Chennai Corporation had closed major vegetable markets and shifted the shops to playgrounds and other open spaces where social distancing is possible.

Apart from shifting the markets to playgrounds, the civic body shifted Korattur Market to Korattur bus terminus and 220 vegetable shops from Kothavalchavadi market to Broadway bus terminus.

Meanwhile, the corporation officials are conducting inspections across the city to check violations by grocery shops and supermarkets. “We have been insisting that the shops down shutters before 1 pm and ensure that social distancing among customers is maintained on their premises.

However, some shopkeepers have not taken these instructions seriously, and hence we are sealing at least one or two shops every day,” an official said. The official further reminded the vendors that the shops that are sealed by the civic body could only be opened after three months.