New Delhi, Jul 5 (IANS): South Delhi's popular Lajpat Nagar market became the third in the national capital to be shut down by the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) for not complying with Covid-appropriate behaviour norms.

The DDMA's action followed an inspection visit on Sunday, July 4, by the South Delhi SDM, who found that Covid protection rules were being flouted and immediately ordered the closure of the market from Monday till further orders.

On Sunday, the DDMA not only ordered the market to be closed, but also issued show-cause notices to several shopkeepers and the market association stating why action should not be taken against them for violating Covid-19 norms.

The association has also been directed to ensure that all unlock SOPs must be enforced in the market within a day and shopkeepers be asked to strictly follow Covid-appropriate behaviour.

During his inspection vist, the SDM found a large crowd at the cotton market, and the vendors as well as the shoppers were not following Covid-19 rules.

Dilip Rastogi, a shopkeeper, informed IANS on Monday that the Lajpat Nagar Market Association had held a meeting with all shopkeepers and would request the DDMA (represented by the SDM-South Delhi) to reopen the market again. "Just five to six shops were found violating Covid-19 rules but the entire market was ordered to shut down," Rastogi said. "Our Association will meet the SDM and request him to reconsider its order."

Earlier, the DDMA had ordered the shutdown of the Punjabi Basti market in the Punjabi Bagh area and the Janata market in Nangloi till July 6 for violating Covid-appropriate behaviour rules. The Laxmi Nagar market had earlier been ordered to be shut down for six days, but it was allowed to reopen from July 2.