mumbai chief minister uddhav thackeray announced on thursday that shops supplying essential commodities and medical stores will be permitted to remain open roundtheclock the cms decision came as a huge relief to the common man on a day vegetable prices soared 50 on an average across the city and there were fewer items to choose from thackeray made the announcement a day after prime minister narendra modi declared a complete lockdown to tackle coronavirusin view of the lockdown people are facing difficulties procuring essential commodities groceries and medicines massive crowds are seen at most of these shops which may adversely affect peoples health under such circumstances it has been decided that these establishments be granted permission to carry out their businesses for 24 hours a day thackeray saidat a meeting attended by chief secretary ajoy mehta and bureaucrats thackeray reviewed the states preparedness to fight the virusthe state government also appointed three senior ias officers to ensure that essential supplies arrive uninterrupted principal secretary anoop kumar has been assigned to ensure smooth despatch of vegetables and fruit from apmcs principal secretary mahesh pathak will oversee supply of foodgrains to fair price shops and his peer abha shukla will monitor food supply to daily wage labourers rendered joblessa senior bureaucrat said several citizens had brought to the cms notice difficulties faced in procuring essential commodities and medicines the bureaucrat added now that permission is granted to keep shops open 247 it will be their responsibility to ensure safe distance between customers and fumigation and cleanliness of the premisesmeanwhile on thursday the situation in the markets remained precarious matungas k a viswanathan said onionpotato sold for a shocking rs 50 per kg and cabbagecauliflower for rs 100 in andheri lokhandwala common vegetables cost at least rs 100 a kilo with rs 120 for cluster bean and lady finger coriander was rs 3040 a bunchborivli residents invited greengrocers to enter housing complexes in tempos a vendor said he had borrowed rs 40000 to buy vegetables to sell loaders have hiked charges from rs 20 per box to rs 50 colaba mla rahul narwekar asked police to take action against vendors who charge exorbitant priceslong queues unfolded outside lpg outlets due to delayed delivery of cylinders in colaba khar and kalyan thanes elderly complained of not receiving medicines on time as chemists stopped delivery even online platforms have deferred despatch