Why the U-turn on letting shops open from Sunday?

Decision to keep shops closed till May 3, a day after announcing their opening, was made so that shop-owners can avoid paying salary to staff for April; AMC says decision taken to increase time taken to double cases from 8 to 12 days

Retracting the state government’s decision to let single shops open from April 26 (Akshaya Tritiya), the AMC authorities on Sunday announced that no shops other than those selling essential items will be allowed to open till May 3 in Ahmedabad.

Sources said the decision was taken to accommodate thousands of shop-owners and traders who otherwise would have been compelled to pay full month’s salary to their staff. “With few days to go before the month ends, asking shops to remain closed till May 3 is indirect help to shop-owners. Otherwise, the owners would have been morally bound to pay up salary for April to all their employees,” said a government official on condition of anonymity.

The state government on Saturday had conditionally eased lockdown restrictions on shops, leaving aside those inside malls and shopping complexes, following an order to this effect by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).

Briefing reporters, however, Ahmedabad Municipal Commissioner Vijay Nehra said the civic body had aimed to increase the span of Covid-19 cases doubling from the present eight days to 12 days by May 3, till when the nationwide lockdown is scheduled. “To achieve this (12-day doubling) target, which is a little difficult, we have appealed to shopkeepers to not open shops till May 3. We have spoken to trade bodies and they have agreed. Police has also been informed. With shops open, the infection rate is likely to increase,” Nehra said.


A state government official said the decision to keep only shops dealing with essential items open was taken at a meeting on Sunday which was attended by the civic chiefs of the four cities — Ahmedabad, Surat, Rajkot, Vadodara — adding that traders and retail bodies had been consulted and they were in support.

AMC authorities said representatives of several trader associations including Paanch Kuva Kapad Mahajan Market, Choksi Mahajan Market and Muscati Kapad Market had written to the civic body and “extended” support to keep shops closed till May 3. After hotel Fern on the SG Highway, hotel Double Tree by Hilton on the Iskcon-Bopal road will also be converted into Covid-care centre. The hotel will charge Rs 3,500 per day which will cover charges for lodging and three meals. An AMC health team will be deployed at the hotel to treat and monitor the patients admitted there.

A private hospital coming up in Naroda, owned by Thakkarbapanagar BJP MLA Vallabh Kakadia, has been handed over to AMC for use as Covidcare centre, said Nehra on Sunday.