The Manipur cabinet on Wednesday decided to shut down all the markets here to prevent large gatherings of shoppers, following the recommendations of the consultative committee meeting attended by representatives of different political parties and eminent academicians held at the chief minister’s secretariat on Tuesday,

The cabinet meeting held for the first time on the open lawn of the Chief Minister’s official bungalow reviewed the measures to fight Covid-19 being taken up so far and discussed the last two days’ market scenario wherein a huge number of shoppers gathered at the shops and markets in different parts of greater Imphal, putting social-distancing norms at risk.

Considering the fact that many people of the state, who had been stranded in different parts of the country during the lockdown, were returning home in batches, the cabinet decided to avoid any opportunity of forming large gatherings, sources said.

It decided to withdraw the relaxation of shops and markets from the lockdown but the local markets in the rural areas would be allowed to open with strict maintenance of social-distancing norms, the source said.

It was also decided to pay Rs 200 as daily allowance to each of the persons who were staying at the different quarantine centres opened in various Assembly constituencies.

The state government will bear the travel expenses of the Manipur people who were returning home by train from different parts of the country, except the red zones.

However, the travel expenses of Manipuris, who stay in different parts of the Northeast who are returning by road, should be borne by themselves. The state government will issue permits for them to return home, the source added.

All shops at Paona and Thangal markets here and other markets in the suburban areas of Imphal were ordered to close down from Wednesday morning.