STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI: The Leader of Opposition in the Assam Legislative Assembly, Debabrata Saikia, expressed his concern on the reopening of some markets in the city amid the nation-wide lockdown, on Friday.
Hundreds of panic buyers converged at different vegetable markets in the city and thus breaking the practice of social distancing.
Debabrata Saikia said that the lockdown will become meaningless without systematic planning to open the markets or distribute essential commodities to the people.
“However, the government took measures to close down the markets in the afternoon but the damage was already done”, said Saikia.
Further, the leader urged the government to impose an immediate curfew in the region. He suggested that essential items like food and medicines can be distributed by mobile vans in panchayat and town areas. “There are 28,000 panchayat representatives and 2,000 town committee representatives. The government can hire workers from the Health and Social Welfare Department and Panchayat and Rural Development for the services”, he added. “The corona pandemic in the country is in its second phase. The government should not stay standstill when the 21-day lockdown period is over. The Health Department should visit every household in the state to conduct medical check-up”, said Saikia.