Rising Covid cases in Delhi concerns traders, businessmen
It was in 2021 when Jamal had shifted his business in a new rented shop aiming to make money during Ramzan and Eid.
But the arrival of deadly Covid then had poured cold water on his plan. There were many businessmen like him in Okhla and across the country who were hit hard by Covid.
In 2022 things appeared to be different as for the first time in two years the festival is being held with no restrictions and markets are attracting huge crowds.
But with Covid cases witnessing a rise in the national Capital in the middle of festival, traders and business owners are worried that another restriction would make things difficult for them to make recovery from losses over the past two years.
Businessmen are hoping that the Delhi government won’t impose any kind of restrictions on their businesses. They fear that new restrictions might hamper their business. Delhi on Monday recorded 501 fresh cases. Now, all eyes on the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) meet. It will hold a crucial meeting on Wednesday to discuss the rising number of infections in the city.
“With much difficulty, things are getting back to place and if this happens again then you know. It will be really bad for the economy and for the business, country and traders,” said Atul Bhargava, president of the National Delhi Trade Association.
Bhargava said: “They (the govt) should impose restrictions on the crowd, not on opening and closing of shops.” For most of the businessmen, the last two years were not good and it was this year that things finally started to look upside for the businesses. But the new restrictions might further dampen the chances of recovery of businesses.
The food industry was among the worst hit during lockdown as several eateries in New Friends’ Colony were shut.
