The Kamrup (metro) district administration on Thursday continued its attempt to streamline the supply of vegetables through 91 mobile vendors and provided the option of moving them across 60 wards of the Guwahati Municipal Corporation. However, in certain wards, people gathered in large numbers at the point of sale, allegedly flouting lockdown norms.
An official said all the 91 mobile shops were opened across several locations on Thursday so that people do not travel long distances in search of vegetables.
The official said several initiatives had been taken by the administration to help the residents but it was witnessed that several people had defied the lockdown norms.
“The mobile vendors were positioned in such a way that they could cater to the population of a particular area. Once the area was served, the vendor was allowed to shift to a new locality of the designated ward so that people do not venture far in search of vegetables,” he said.
He said the process was carried out in such a way that social distancing was maintained with all precautions. The vendors were asked to be prepared with all safety equipment so that there was no risk to the people. Customers were also asked to come prepared with sanitisers and masks as well as gloves as precautions.
The official said the local supervisors alerted everybody about the location of the mobile vendors in each ward.
Another source said although the administration had made all announcements that large gatherings as well as using vehicles was prohibited, several people had violated the norms.These issues were, however, solved by police and security personnel deployed on the ground.
A major congestion occurred in Ganeshguri area, where several people came with their vehicles to buy vegetables, creating a 2-km-long bottleneck.
The police took action against all the violators who had no passes or were out on the streets without any reason, the source added.
Several vehicles were also seized on Thursday but the exact figures are yet to be known. However, Assam police said that till Thursday, 6,917 vehicles had been seized since the lockdown began, while 1,309 people have been arrested for violating regulations.
An official also said that all the vegetables will have to be sold according to prices fixed by the district administration and action will be taken against persons who are found hoarding or selling vegetables at a price higher than the fixed MRP.
Apart from this, the administration has also permitted 10 online vendors to deliver vegetables to residents. These vendors will operate through mobile applications as well as phone calls. A minimum price for the delivery will be charged though.
The district administration has also taken measures to ensure supply of local fish to residents from Friday.
According to a notification, the Rupnagar Fishfed outlet will sell fish to locals. Fishfed and the customers will maintain protocol of containment of Covid-19, including social distancing, issued by the government.
Fish will be priced according to existing rates fixed by Fishfed. For carrying of fish from different sources, Fishfed will issue passes to a maximum of five vehicles daily. Under the supervision of fisheries department and Fishfed, only door-to-door delivery will be carried out. Sale in market or roadside will not be allowed.
