Pune: Salon owners upset over having to keep doors shut

PUNE: The owner of Wanowrie-based Style Plus Salon, Mohammad Fayaz, was excited as he opened his shop on Tuesday and served quite a few customers, who had come for a haircut. By evening however, all his excitement vanished.
“I have just been informed about a tweet from the mayor stating that salons, spas, gyms, etc, cannot open. I had opened my shop after almost two months as the state government had not specified the kind of non-essential shops that could open. The message has left me aghast,” shared Fayaz.
With quite a few salons opening shutters on Tuesday, the message from Mayor Murlidhar Mohol, left owners disappointed.
Kiran Shinde, who runs New Delight Men’s Parlour at Kasba Peth, didn’t even open his shop on Tuesday. “I cannot risk opening and paying hefty fines when I am neck deep in debt. Last year, salons were closed for around six to seven months and, after we could open, I was able to save some money, which is sustaining me presently. However, rent, staff salaries, bill payments, etc, have taken a backseat,” said Shinde.
An office holder with Pune Nabhik Seva Sangh, an association of barbers, said that they have requested authorities to allow them to operate under strict guidelines without any delays.