New Delhi, May 20 (KNN) The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) has asked Delhi government to launch a sanitisation drive by municipal corporations to ensure cleanliness of the markets.

After the relaxation in the lockdown by central government and state governments, the shops across country opened on Tuesday opened after keeping the shutters closed for 55 days.

''Due to the closure of the market for about two months, the cleanliness system in the markets has severely deteriorated and therefore the government should direct all three Municipal Corporations to begin a massive drive of cleaning and sanitising the markets and ensure that before opening of shops, the markets must be properly cleaned and sanitised,'' said CAIT in its letter to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Lt. Governor Anil Baijal.

The traders' body also urged them to reconsider the odd-even formula for shop opening, observing that only 5 lakh shops could open in city owing to the arrangement.

''Most of the traders in the city and trade associations are not in favour of odd-even formula. Traders believe that this will restrict complete opening of shops in a comprehensive manner and will cause great inconvenience to the traders,'' CAIT Secretary General Praveen Khandelwal said.

Khandelwal also suggested that Delhi's markets should be divided into ten parts, out of which five parts should be opened from 8 am to 1 pm, while the remaining five parts should be opened from 1 pm to 5 pm or alternate day of opening of shops could be another choice to consider.

''Across Country about 4.5 crore shops open today but due to the Odd Even system in Delhi, only about 5 lakh shops having odd numbers could opened today whereas the shops having the even numbers will open on Wednesday,'' said Khandelwal.

CAIT also said that no business occurred on the first day in commercial markets across country including Delhi. After a long span of period, the traders opened their shops and began cleaning and sanitisation of shops.

It also cited acute shortage of workers engaged in shops, saying more than 70 per cent of the workforce has migrated to their native villages.