Traders demand change in curbs on shop timings
KOTA/ BHARATPUR: After the state government allowed limited commercial activities in Rajasthan from Wednesday, trader associations have demanded to keep their shops open during the daytime instead of the morning hours.
The state was under lockdown for over six weeks keeping in view the Covid-19 pandemic. Under the modified lockdown (Unlock 1) guidelines announced on Tuesday, the government has allowed dairy and milk shops to open from 6 am to 11 am and 5 pm to 7pm and mandi, fruit and vegetables sellers, street vendors and flower sellers to operate from 6 am to 11 am daily. All other kinds of shops have been allowed to open from 6 am to 11 am from Tuesday to Friday only.
On Wednesday, shops and markets opened from 6 am to 11 am in most districts. However, traders associations in several districts have demanded to open their shops from 10 am to 4 pm daily.
Subhash Goyal, president of the Jaipur Vyapar Mahasangh, said there is no point in allowing shops to open for 5 hours till 11 am. “Government should allow shops to open from 10 am to 5 pm,” he said.
Suresh Agarwal, president of the Federation of Rajasthan Trade and Industry, said, “Shops should be allowed to open in three shifts to avoid crowding in the markets and ensure social distancing norms of Covid-19 protocols.” Ashok Maheshwari, general secretary of the Kota Vyapar Mahasangh, also said the government should allow shops to open from 10 am to 4 pm, as only 5% to 10% trade took place on Wednesday.
In Bharatpur, hundreds of traders organised a bike rally.
They shouted slogans against the district administration demanding opening of all shops daily.
The district administration has decided to open the markets with a special arrangement, under which shops of one side of the road in a market will be allowed to open on alternate days in the morning hours.
The protesters demanded that all shops be allowed to open daily. Shops selling essential commodities should be allowed to open till 11 am, while others shops be permitted to open from 11 am to 4 pm, they suggested.
Bhagwan Das, a leader of the traders, said the district administration had called a meeting, in which their suggestions were turned down.
Bharatpur Municipal Corporation commissioner Rajesh Goyal said the unlock phase started in the district, as the district comes under yellow zone, which is considered a safe zone.
In Sri Ganganagar, the district administration allowed shops to open on the basis of directions; shops facing north and east directions and shops facing south and west directions were allowed to open on alternate days.
Shops should be allowed to open in three shifts to avoid crowding in the markets and ensure social distancing..