Offices can open with 1/3rd staff, cabs can ply in Ghaziabad

Abhijay Jha | TNN | May 5, 2020, 07:04 IST

Ghaziabad: The Ghaziabad administration announced on Monday it would allow the opening of shops and liquor outlets in non-containment zones, but expect no change in status quo on the entry of domestic staff or electricians into households.
After keeping residents waiting the whole day, the administration came out with its list of relaxations that allowed offices to open with 33% strength, cabs to ply on roads with two passengers and contractors to resume construction with whatever workforce is available on the site.
The Monday evening order said all shops selling essential and non-essential items would be allowed to open but owners will have to send an online application to the administration for permission. It, however, did not specify if the current time restrictions on shops — 8am-2pm for those selling vegetables and 8am-4pm for groceries — would continue from Tuesday.
“In urban areas, both standalone shops and those within gated societies are allowed to open if they are not in containment zones,” district magistrate Ajay Shankar Pandey said. “Malls and market complexes, and shops along the national and state highways will remain closed,” he added. In rural areas, however, shops wouldn’t need permission to open. Liquor vends outside hotspots have been allowed to stay open from 10am-7pm.
The order has also given industries the green light to resume operations, but has not clarified on the strength of workers to be allowed. “All such industries will be required to seek online permission to start operations,” Pandey said.
He added, “At all construction sites, activities can resume with available workforce and under guidelines of the government. Covid marshals will be deployed for each site and they will ensure all safety protocols are followed. Workers will not be allowed to roam around the site and it will be the responsibility of the builder or the contractor to ferry them back to their shelters.”
All private and government offices can resume work, the order said, but with only 33% of their staff. “Organisations will have to provide a detailed list of employees they plan to call to office,” Pandey said.
Pandey, however, cautioned that action would be taken against employers or shop owners if social distancing is not followed on their premises.
“We have appointed duty magistrates. They will keep an eye on whether norms are being followed or not,” he added.
Asked about allowing domestic staff, electricians and plumbers inside gated societies, the DM said, “We have issued a detailed list of activities that are being allowed. Anything that does not figure on the list obviously means that it has not been permitted.”