The National Khadi and Saras Fair, which has been generating business opportunities for artisans and craftsmen every year since 2016, will not be organised in the city on its scheduled date from March 21 to April 4 due to the novel coronavirus scare.

State rural development secretary Avinash Kumar told The Telegraph on Monday that the decision had been taken in the wake of an advisory circulated by the Union government to contain the spread of the deadly virus.

“The advisory recommends avoiding big gatherings as a preventive measure to stop the spread of the virus. We are bound to follow that in public interest,” Kumar said.

On the next tentative date for the fair, he said: “It will be decided later.

“These kind of decisions can’t be taken single-handedly.”

The 15-day annual fair helps to boost khadi and village industries.

Over 1,000 stalls are set up at the fair, which witnesses thousands of visitors.

Last time, the fair generated business worth Rs 18 crore.

Usually, the fair starts in the last week of December and ends in the first week of January.

However, last year, the fair could not be held in December because of the Assembly elections and the date was postponed to March this year.

Deputy chief executive officer of Jharkhand State Khadi and Village Industries Board Suman Pathak said all preparations for the fair had been completed.

“The next date can be finalised only after consulting the state health and family welfare department,” Pathak said.