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Friday, March 29 2024
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Mangaluru

Covid19 fight: Mangalore Lockdown Day 13 – Empty Roads; Empty Markets

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Mangaluru: The District Administration has finally hit the jackpot. They tried all manner of restrictions to ensure people stayed home during the lockdown but were never wholly successful. Yesterday, both the state and local administration announced that all private vehicles, barring those with essential passes, found moving unauthorizedly on Mangaluru’s roads would be seized and handed back to their owners only after the Lockdown ends on April 14th. Success ensued.

People were encouraged to walk to their neighborhood Kiranas or supermarkets. This was expected to help distribute the population, help the local Kirana generate business, help with social distancing and help the population with their wellness effort! The latter important in the light of the medicine purchases over the period of lockdown!

The objective of the orders appears to have been met. The roads were as free of traffic as they could ever be. And so were the markets. It seems that Mangalore does not need any more purchases – they’ve done it all in the two days since the 3-day total lockdown was lifted. Two days previously, the story was entirely different. It even worried shop owners, who were on a roll, given the price hikes, the volume of purchases and the hoarding mentality of the public. This was of course partially due to the fact that the public did not know what was to come the following day until late evening of the previous day.

Just a couple of days ago, the media and various WhatsApp groups were all over the public – smart city, smart and educated people, but they don’t know how to maintain social distance when requested and required, they said after people crowded around markets and supermarkets, even small Kirana stores, and medical shops when the total lockdown was lifted. Today, even without law and order personnel, social distancing was complete – there were very few people at the markets.

Consumers Traders and Farmers are all caught in the same supply, demand, pricing hell hole. First, there were supplies, but it was locked down and no sales. So no takers for farmers stocks. Stocks were dumped. Then came the lifting of the Lockdown, when demand was high and prices skyrocketed. Despite the high prices, there was panic buying. Then the administration clamped down and prices stabilized. But there are no takers for the produce!

This is probably the best way forward. Fitness and appetite will grow as we walk to and from the market. The nearby Kirana shops will be able to serve us and themselves once again. Social distancing will become a reality and all will be well!

Go Corona; Corona Go

With inputs and Pics by Roshan Madtha

Covid19 fight: Mangalore Lockdown Day 13 - Empty Roads; Empty Markets
Covid19 fight: Mangalore Lockdown Day 13 - Empty Roads; Empty Markets
Covid19 fight: Mangalore Lockdown Day 13 - Empty Roads; Empty Markets
Covid19 fight: Mangalore Lockdown Day 13 - Empty Roads; Empty Markets

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