Day-long confusion among shopkeepers settled by UT Govt order
*Malls, bars, restaurants, saloons, parks to remain shut
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Apr 25: Following guidelines of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) issued last midnight on opening of shops, the Jammu and Kashmir Government today permitted some categories of shops to open in the Union Territory with condition of ensuring physical distancing and local arrangements of timing.
The relaxations were announced in an order issued tonight by Chief Secretary BVR Subrahmanyam, who happens to be Chairperson, State Executive Committee (SEC).
However, official sources told the Excelsior that relaxations won’t be applicable in Containment Zones.
Like the Ministry of Home Affairs, the J&K Government has also separated the relaxations for rural and urban areas. The relaxations are more in rural than urban areas, according to the Government order.
In rural areas, the Government has ordered opening of all shops except eateries with sit-in facilities.
Cinema halls, Malls, restaurants, parlours, saloons, gymnasiums, sports complexes, swimming pools, entertainment parks, theatres, bars, auditoriums, assembly halls and similar places will remain shut in the rural areas.
“Shops and establishments in single-brand and multi-brand Malls will also remain closed in rural areas,” as per the Government order.
In Urban areas, the Government has ordered opening of all standalone shops, neighborhood shops, shops in residential complexes except eateries with sit-in facilities.
In Urban areas also, cinema halls, Malls, restaurants, parlours, saloons, gymnasiums, sports complexes, swimming pools, entertainment parks, theatres, bars, auditoriums, assembly halls and similar places will remain closed.
Other establishments which aren’t permitted to open included shops in Malls, Markets (with Clusters of Shops like Bazaars) and market complexes except permissible shops selling essential items like groceries, fruits, vegetables, bakeries etc.
The J&K Government order has been issued in pursuance of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) order.
The MHA order issued yesterday had also allowed opening of all shops in rural areas, except those in single and multi-brand shopping malls. In urban areas, all standalone shops, neighborhood shops and shops in residential complexes were allowed to open. Shops in markets/market complexes and shopping malls were not allowed to open, as per the MHA order, which also stated that no shops will be allowed to function in both rural and urban areas if they fall in Containment Zones.
However, the Union Home Ministry also clarified that sale of liquor and other items continues to be prohibited as specified in the National Directives for COVID-19 management and sale of non-essential items through e-commerce platforms will continue to remain shut.
Restaurants, hair salons and barber shops will not be allowed to open as these render services and do not fall under the shop category, the MHA order stated.
Earlier this morning, utter confusion prevailed in Jammu region as shops opened at various places excepting Red/Containment Zones in view of the MHA order but police officials called upon them to down their shutters and wait for the orders of the UT Government or the District Magistrate saying they have no directions to allow opening of shops except for essential commodities which were already opening right from start of the lockdown.
Surprisingly, the civil and police administration even didn’t implement the order issued by the UT Government last night on opening of bakery shops and supply of dry fruits by the dry fruit shopkeepers for home delivery. The Government order had said that bakery shops will function without being used as restaurant/cafeteria.
The order was seen as relief for the people during holy month of Ramzan when use of bakery and dry fruits especially dates picks up.
However, Jai Hind Bakery Shop which opened at Talab Tillo this morning was sealed by the police. When approached for comments, a police officer said they have no order of the District Magistrate to allow opening of bakery shops. On being told that there was a Government order on opening of bakery shops, the police officer insisted that the District Magistrate had to issue separate order.
Late tonight, the bakery shop was unsealed.
In most parts of the region, the bakery shops opened in the morning but were closed down by the police excepting few rural areas where, according to the people, they were already functioning clandestinely.
Dry fruit operators too described the UT Government order as “full of confusion” saying how they can supply dry fruits to the people at their homes without opening the shops.
“Only home delivery of dry fruits will be allowed without opening the shops,” the Government order had said yesterday. It had, however, stated that the shopkeepers will have to obtain passes from the Deputy Commissioners.
The dry fruit shopkeepers wanted to know about technique from the Government by which they can supply dry fruits at people’s doorsteps without opening their shops.
Most of the shopkeepers to whom the Excelsior spoke were of the view that if grocery, vegetables, milk, mutton, chemists and other shops of essential commodities can open while maintaining social distancing and following other guidelines like wearing masks by the shopkeepers and customers why can’t other shops like that of books, mobile telephones, provisional stores etc which were also essential, can function?
However, they said if the shops are opened it should be duty of the shopkeepers to ensure that the customers maintain social distancing.
While allowing opening of more shops, a move seen as a relief to people who have been under lockdown since March 24, the MHA order issued on Friday night said the shops will be functioning with 50 per cent of workforce and after adhering strictly to precautions which include social distancing and wearing of masks.
Sources said that liquor shops were given license under the Excise Act of the States and the establishments thrown open were covered under the Shops and Establishment Act of the States.
The lockdown was first announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 24 in a bid to combat the Coronavirus pandemic. It was further extended till May 3.
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