Ensure proper hygiene at wholesale markets: Rai to Delhi Agricultural Marketing Board officials

Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Wednesday met senior officials of the Delhi Agricultural Marketing Board and directed them to provide hand sanitiser and ensure proper hygiene at wholesale vegetable, flower and fruit markets in the city in view of novel coronavirus outbreak.

According to a statement, chairmen and secretaries of several agricultural markets, such as Azadpur Mandi, Ghazipur Mandi, Ghazipur Flower Mandi, Ghazipur Murga Mandi, Narela Anaaj Mandi, and Najafgarh Anaaj Mandi were present in the meeting.

"All the officials have been instructed to cater to taking all measures required to tackle coronavirus. Health is important and therefore, we have to ensure that agricultural and flower markets in the city are also protected from the virus," Rai was quoted as saying in the statement.

It stated that ahead of the budget for the next financial year, the funds for the development of all the markets were also been discussed in the meeting.

"The budget for the mandis for the next year will be approved in two phases. First is the total overall project which involves renewal, development, expansion, and construction of the existing and the new mandis.

"The second phase is the budget which has been set for all the mandis that are in place," the statement said.

Several existing markets will also be expanded and renewed, with Ghazipur Murga Mandi getting 100 new shops at a cost of Rs 100 crore, and Ghazipur Flower Market getting 412 new shops with a cost of Rs 170 crore.