Every shop would be open for 2 days only: Kamrup District Administration

Guwahati: Deputy Commissioner, Kamrup Metro, Biswajit Pegu, held a meeting with representatives of trade and commerce to address concerns of small business and shop owners after the government decided to lift COVID-19 lockdown restrictions from Monday.

Clarifying doubts over which shops would be open and if shops in market complexes can be opened, the deputy commissioner said that all shops in market complexes and malls to remain shut.

"Even offices in market complexes will remain shut. If any particular office needs to start operations, then they will have to take permission from the DC office and permission would be granted in case to case basis," the deputy commissioner said addressing media after the one and half hour long meeting with the trader bodies.

Some of the other decisions taken at the meeting are:

Only stand alone shops to be open

Only one-third of the shops to be open. Meaning if there are three shops in a row, only one to be open.

"The district administration has analysed that following the only one-third open norm would mean every shop would be open for two days only," the deputy commissioner said.

All shops to remain shut on Sundays and Mondays.

Building owners have been given the responsibility to decide on which shop to open and ensure that a proper roster is maintained.

"Any violation would result in strict action being taken against the building owner as well as the shop owner. If guidelines are not followed then licence could be cancelled," Pegu said.

The administration has requested building owners to either waive off the rent or reduce the rent amount.

However, representatives of certain trade associations do not seem happy about the 'only one-third shops to open' norm.

"This is adding to the confusion. And according to this norm only 10% of the shops will open. The total lockdown was better," said Prantosh Ray, General Secretary, All Guwahati Traders Association after attending the meeting.

There are over 65,000 retailers and over 1200 wholesalers in and around Guwahati.

The norms would apply to retailers as well as wholesalers.

The meeting was attended by representatives of 35 trade and commerce associations of Kamrup district.

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