BENGALURU: Signalling a partial exit from the Covid-19 lockdown in 22 out of 30 districts, the state government allowed neighbourhood and standalone shops and industries to reopen from Wednesday in the green and orange zones. The relaxations — aimed at reviving economic activity in most parts of the state — will not apply to eight red-zone districts, including Bengaluru city and Mysuru.
While the relaxations will automatically apply in the green districts, the in-charge ministers will take a call in the eight districts falling in the orange zone. “The ministers will decide after reviewing the situation. They are also free to limit relaxations to a few taluks within the respective districts,” said a senior minister. The rider, sources said, was incorporated as some minsters objected to relaxation of lockdown norms. The Union home ministry had last week issued guidelines for reopening of neighbourhood shops and industries but resistance within the BSY cabinet is learned to have held back the state’s order by three days.
With the new set of guidelines issued by chief secretary TM Vijay Bhaskar on Tuesday, all neighborhood standalone shops — selling stationery, electrical items, and cloth and readymade garments — and shops in residential complexes can reopen from Wednesday.
Market shops outside city limits can open
Shops within market complexes can reopen only outside city limits. Hotels, shopping malls, cinema theatres, multiplexes, bar & restaurants will remain shut till May 3 in green and orange zones as well.
Read our coronavirus live blog for all the latest news and updates
Industries operating outside municipal limits (except in Ramanagara district), and those in controlled special economic zones and export-oriented units and industrial townships, can resume operations. They will have to provide accommodation for workers within their premises or in adjacent buildings or arrange for their transport, keeping social distancing in mind.
While the relaxations will automatically apply in the green districts, the in-charge ministers will take a call in the eight districts falling in the orange zone. “The ministers will decide after reviewing the situation. They are also free to limit relaxations to a few taluks within the respective districts,” said a senior minister. The rider, sources said, was incorporated as some minsters objected to relaxation of lockdown norms. The Union home ministry had last week issued guidelines for reopening of neighbourhood shops and industries but resistance within the BSY cabinet is learned to have held back the state’s order by three days.
With the new set of guidelines issued by chief secretary TM Vijay Bhaskar on Tuesday, all neighborhood standalone shops — selling stationery, electrical items, and cloth and readymade garments — and shops in residential complexes can reopen from Wednesday.
Market shops outside city limits can open
Shops within market complexes can reopen only outside city limits. Hotels, shopping malls, cinema theatres, multiplexes, bar & restaurants will remain shut till May 3 in green and orange zones as well.
Read our coronavirus live blog for all the latest news and updates
Industries operating outside municipal limits (except in Ramanagara district), and those in controlled special economic zones and export-oriented units and industrial townships, can resume operations. They will have to provide accommodation for workers within their premises or in adjacent buildings or arrange for their transport, keeping social distancing in mind.
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