Bhopal, Mar 23 (IANS): With nine districts being locked down, the Essential Commodities Act invoked in Madhya Pradesh on Sunday to check hoarding of masks, hand sanitisers and other commodities was hardly of any help to the common man.

Milk booths, medical shops, hospital and ambulance facility remained opened for the public but police parties checking the movements of vehicles the milk supply was hit.

Markets and petrol pumps remained closed and public transport did not ply on Sunday in state capital.

Madhya Pradesh Petrol Pump Dealers Association member Ajay Singh said petrol pumps will remain closed on March 22 in view of Janata Curfew against COVID-19. "People will not come to refill vehicles, so no use to keeping petrol pumps open," he said.

Bhopal District Collector Tarun Pithode had issues a circular to ensure the shopkeepers displayed

The stock list and the availability of essential goods and prices. With most shops remaining closed even bare essential food articles were unavailable. The large number of students who form a sizeable population in the cities like Bhopal, Indore, Jabalpur Gwalior and Ujjain were left with no choice to buy the commodities. The shopkeepers had a field day with no one checking the stocks.

With a transitional government in place after the political change during the week-end there was little help for the people. The extension of lock-down period added to the public misery with no hint of where the essential goods would come from on Monday.