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Our Reporter
Dimapur, July 23 (EMN): Amid rise in the number of Covid-19 cases in the state, the shopkeepers of New Market in Dimapur are eager to reopen their stores as they continue to bear the brunt of the Covid-19 pandemic with the market remaining shut for 122 days now.
The GB of New Market Ward-19 Khekishe Aye told Eastern Mirror that even after repeated appeals to the state government and the governor to permit the opening of shops at New Market, there has been no response from the government till date.
“We have assured to follow the laid down SOP if given permission but there has been no response so far from the government,” Aye said. Although appeal was made to the Dimapur Municipal Council and the district administration, he said they couldn’t give permission as the order has to come from the state government.
There are 1562 shops at New Market and the shopkeepers have been paying rent even during this lockdown period.
“We have made an appeal to give permission to open at least the grocery shops, which are around 28 shops but yet to receive positive response,” Aye said.
“Who will be responsible if any toward incident happens to the shopkeepers as there were reports of some shopkeepers going through a very hard time mentally (sic). They have families to feed and salaries to pay and moreover they are paying the shop rent,” he added.
If permitted to open the market, the SOP will be maintained by all, he assured.
The New Market GB and business associations had earlier provided sanistisers and masks to the shopkeepers and also sanitised the market.