A tall order in Lko on opening day

LUCKNOW: The city’s grocery stores and supermarkets remained flooded with online and phone-call orders on Thursday when the district administration made home delivery arrangements to maintain supply of essential items to people during the 21-day-long lockdown over the coronavirus outbreak.

Though the stop-gap arrangements, to curtail the mad rush for essential goods, brought the much needed relief to the people, but placing, and catering to orders was no less than a struggle for both – the people and grocery stores/supermarkets staffers.

Some people, who managed to place orders, said it took about 50 minutes to get the call through, while some who couldn’t place an order, said the numbers either remained not reachable or busy most of the time.

“Things are yet to be streamlined. After trying continuously for around 50 minutes I managed to place an order,” said Raju Pal, a resident of Gomti Nagar.

Some other people who managed to place an order said the stores are only accepting orders of essential goods and are not entertaining orders for other household goods.

“I tried several stores in my locality, the numbers of which were shared by the district administration, a day before but couldn’t get through,” said Manav Shukla, a resident of Indira Nagar.

The situation was no different for people in other areas.

Things were equally tough for grocery stores and supermarkets as they are struggling with skeleton staff.

“We don’t have the staff to cater to the increase demand of the people. Against the total strength of 175, only 12 employees managed to reach the mall on Thursday,” said a staff with Spencer’s at Fun Mall.

An official said taking order over phone is also a time taking process.

The official said since the store was closed for the past three days, most of the employees have left for their respective homes in neighbouring districts and now it is becoming difficult for them to make come back.

“Though, we have enough stock of essential food to cater to the need, but we are running short of perishable goods like veggies, eggs, milk etc that we get from local farmers. The administration should revive the entire supply chain,” an official with a supermarket said.

Bilal Arshad, owner of Online Kaka Nature, the e-commerce site that deals in the supply of raw materials from the city’s prime markets and farmers to the customers, said, “Though we have got permission to maintain the supply chain, in this chain there are other people also. None of the farmers, associated with us, are ready to supply us the food material as they fear coming out of their houses. In that case, it’s becoming tough to meet the orders. At present, we have a two-day wait as we are flooded with orders,” said Arshad.

On Wednesday, district administration announced that grocery stores and supermarkets would remain open and ensure home delivery of essential food items.

The arrangements failed to check people from thronging nearby general merchant shops.

However, the administration assured that the entire supply chain was likely to get smoother in days to come.