Non-essential shops in city to stay open till 5pm on alt days

Nagpur: Extending the lockdown up to July 31, municipal commissioner Tukaram Mundhe has permitted non-essential shops to operate only up to 5pm, and only on alternate days. Mundhe has also reiterated that all liquor shops will only give home delivery within Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) limits.
Mundhe issued the guidelines for lockdown between July 1 and 31 on Tuesday. The state government notification issued a day ago had not mentioned clearly whether non-essential shops would be allowed daily or on alternate days. The government has just mentioned whatever system prevailed in earlier orders will be continued.
NMC deputy commissioner Nirbhay Jain told TOI, “The government did not change alternate day system in latest notification. Therefore, non-essential shops will continue to open on alternate days for next one month.”
In line with earlier orders, shops facing towards north and east will open on odd dates, and those facing south and west on even days. Even where there are shops only on one side of the road, the same system will be applicable.
It will come as a jolt for non-essential shops, which had remained open till 9pm since June 5. Also, evening hours are considered the most favourable for business in non-essential shops.
Mundhe also noted only home delivery of liquor will be allowed. TOI had on June 13 reported collector Ravindra Thakre permitted opening of country liquor shops in NMC limits from June 10. Advocate Ankita Shah had served legal notice to Thakre and Mundhe, stating municipal commissioner was competent authority for NMC limits and did not allow opening of liquor shops whereas collector was authority for Nagpur Rural, but allowed opening of country liquor shops in NMC limits.
The latest order by Mundhe once again notes he is competent authority for NMC limits, and has allowed only home delivery.
Even Thakre on Tuesday issued guidelines for lockdown for next one month, and restricted his orders only up to Nagpur Rural.
Mundhe did not respond to TOI’s calls and messages.
Jain said, “The commissioner’s order is very clear that only home delivery will be allowed for liquor shops within NMC limits.”
However, NMC has neither closed nor levied fine on country liquor shops operating since June 10 and remained silent on the issue.
In comparison to earlier lockdown guidelines, there is one change related to educational institutions. These have been allowed to open only for non-teaching purposes, including development of e-content, evaluation of answer sheets, and declaration of results.
The government had given powers to Mundhe and Thakre to enforce certain measures and necessary restrictions in specified local areas on the permitted non-essential activities, and movement of people to contain spread of Covid-19. But the two authorities have followed whatever is permitted in government’s order.
In Nagpur Rural, all types of shops will open daily only between 9am and 5pm. The only difference is in the strength in private offices. Within NMC limits, Mundhe allowed 10% staff or 10 persons while Thakre permitted 33% staff or 35 persons at the most.