States »WesPosted at: Apr 5 2021 3:05PM Confusion prevails amongst Pune shopkeepers over new Covid-19 restrictions
Pune, Apr 5 (UNI) Even as the Maharashtra government announced new Covid restrictions on Sunday — including a weekend lockdown and an evening curfew on weekdays — confusion reigns amongst shopkeepers and small traders over the closure of shops in Pune.
The order from Pune Municipal Corporation states that all shops are allowed to remain open, albeit following social distancing norms, between 0600 to 1800 hrs in the evenings.
However, the new guidelines for containment ask all shops, markets and malls to remain shut throughout the day, barring non-essential services.
In the absence of any clear instructions from local authorities, there is prevailing confusion amongst Pune traders on how to conduct business.
Fatehchand Ranka, President, The Federation of Traders Association of Pune (FTAP) said that he has been getting messages and inquiries since last evening.
“It is very distressing news and the traders are hoping that they don’t have to shut shop again, it would be catastrophic.
We need clarity over the order and what conditions are applied. The local district authorities have to come up with clear instructions as currently, all traders are following the PMC order of 1800 hrs to 0600 hrs closure. I have spoken to the municipal commissioner in the morning, we think by evening some clarity will be received. Until then, we have our associations meeting today regarding vaccinations of staff and shop owners,” he said.
Parag Shah, the committee member of Pune Camp Merchants Association, said that the discrepancy in timings over the curfew in Pune and other districts of Maharashtra has added to the confusion.
“The Maharashtra government order last evening said curfew from 2000 hrs to 0700 hrs but the Pune local authorities have said that here the curfew is from 1800 hrs to 0600 hrs. Does it mean that in Pune district, the earlier order is in place? There is confusion amongst traders because of these contrasting orders. Also we need to see if lockdown is really a cure, we need to change the mindset of people and strong and effective implementation is the key,” he said.
Meanwhile, local shopkeepers, afraid of an impending shutdown in business, demand that shops be allowed to remain open, even if with restrictions.
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