Civic body to close meat stalls if social distancing rules broken

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:04.04.2020

Want to eat meat? Maintain social distancing. That’s the message the city corporation wants to send out to Chennaiites.

Following reports of overcrowding at meat and fish stalls, Greater Chennai Corporation commissioner G Prakash said shopkeepers would be held responsible for customers crowding or breaking social distancing norms. “If meat stalls or fish stalls function without any social distancing, they will be sealed instantly,” he said. On Monday, such stalls will remain closed owing to Mahavir Jayanthi.

The Commissioner said it had come to his notice that some stalls were selling mutton and beef without the official slaughterhouse seal of GCC. Such stalls will be sealed and criminal action taken, the commissioner said.

Last weekend, officials were concerned over the number of people who crowded to buy meat and fish across the city. “Social distancing went for a toss at several places, forcing us to announce that Marina Loop road fish market will remain closed until lockdown,” said an official. Similar announcements were expected at some major markets too, but the civic body chose to not take the step. “But if norms are again violated, we will have no option,” said the official.

Some municipalities have announced closure of meat shops till the end of the lockdown period. While the Avadi corporation shut down a fish market last week, Thiruverkadu municipality announced that all meat and fish stalls within its limits will have to remain closed until April 14.

“While social distancing was followed at vegetable markets, the same was not followed at meat stalls. We could not station an official at each stall through out the working hours. So we asked that all stalls be shut till the end of the lockdown. The shops were allowed to home-deliver for customers, if needed,” said Avadi municipal commissioner S Senthil Kumaran.