KANPUR: Caution is the new catchword as public places wear deserted look

KANPUR: Advisory on coronavirus issued by the district administration and appeals of ‘self-quarantine’ are paying dividends in Kanpur city an no cases of the virus have been reported. The effect of compliance could be seen at the railway station and bus stand, where only a few people were seen on Thursday. Several of them commented that they have come out of their houses only for some urgent work.
Traffic on roads was less than routine days and there was no crowd at market places. Like other cities, in Kanpur there was no panic-like situation for storing food. People are purchasing according to their monthly requirement, said grocery shop owners.
However, availability of mask and hand sanitizers is not satisfactory and there is a shortage.
The district administration convened a meeting with drug merchants and asked them not to sell masks and hand sanitizers on high prices and warned of strict action as both the items have been declared as essential commodity.
District magistrate Brahmadeo Ram Tiwari asked the shopkeepers to display the rates and stock of masks in their shops. He also fixed the rates of mask. The two-ply layer surgical mask would be sold for Rs 22 per piece. Three-ply surgical mask for Rs 25 per piece, black/pollution mask for Rs 30 and N 95 mask for Rs.180 and hand sanitizers on MRP.
The district magistrate later said he had constituted several teams of drug department to conduct raids at medical stores on complaint of black marketing of the two essential commodities.
Adhivakta Kalyan Sangharsh Samiti in Kanpur court on Thursday handed over a memorandum to Kanpur judiciary and urged that the measures at Kanpur court to counter the virus were not adequate. The district administration and health department should send teams to Kanpur court to sanitize the area and conduct thermal screening of litigants.
Meanwhile, Green Park authorities closed sports activities till April 2. According to Ajay Sethi, regional sports officer, only a few morning walkers come Green Park otherwise all activities have been halted.