COVID-19: Strict but not like last lockdown, say sellers of essentials

The fish market at Andheri’s Four Bungalows looked sleepy on Wednesday. Pic/Rane Ashish

Memories of last year's harsh lockdown etched on their mind, citizens feared something similar ahead of Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray's public address on Tuesday night. They heaved a sigh of relief after learning that they won't need to throng local markets to stock up on essentials.

Sachin, a vegetable vendor in Andheri, said there has been no panic buying this time

While stricter curbs have been announced from 8 pm on Wednesday for the next 15 days, most shops in and around Andheri (W), Juhu, Santacruz, and Bandra remained shut. Those selling rations, fruits, vegetables, poultry, and fish were open, but they didn't see big crowds.

"This time it has been made exceptionally clear that vegetables, fruits, and other essential commodities will be available. This is why people are not panicking and rushing to the market to buy stuff. Last time everyone landed up at the markets at the same time in fear that the supplies would get over," said Sachin, a vegetable vendor in Andheri.

The fish market at 4 Bungalows bore a deserted look. Fisherwomen were seen swatting at flies, keeping an eye out for incoming customers. Only a handful of people were present to buy fish. One of them said, "There has been no crowd here at all ever since the Coronavirus happened last year. People have barely been visiting our fish market, forget overcrowding." Another woman added: "Things have changed... livelihood has become tough for us. Otherwise earlier there used to be so many customers at any time of the day. Now, we are hardly able to sell even a fraction of our catch."

Saalim Khan, 30, a resident of Andheri West, said there was no panic buying this time. "Everyone knows that essential shops will be open this time, even though stricter curbs have been implemented. In fact, the crowd on the streets is lesser than what it was a few days ago," he said.

Nizam Khan, ex-president of the Lokhandwala Oshiwara Vyapari Mandal, a post that he held for 25 years and which has more than 400 shops under its jurisdiction, said, "Retail shop owners like us will never say that the CM's decision is a good one - because it directly affects our livelihood. However, one needs to understand both sides. Things are out of control now and we need some rules to be framed. From tomorrow, our market will bear a deserted look like it did at this time last year."

15
Days duration of the curbs