At least five shops opened on the occasion of Raja festival in violation of Covid-19 restrictions, were sealed in Bhubaneswar on Monday.
The cloth stores located at Damana market have been sealed by the enforcement team of Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) and Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA).
A fine of Rs 7000 has been imposed on owners of these shops. Further enforcement is going on, said sources.
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In a related development, four garment shops were sealed in Rairangpur of Mayurbhanj district for violating Covid-19 norms. The shops were sealed during a joint raid by Rairangpur tehsildar, municipal executive officer and in-charge of Town police station.
As lockdown is enforced across Odisha, there are restrictions on the opening of shops. However, high demands of new garments in view of Raja festival prompted many traders to clandestinely open their shops and do backdoor business.
On June 3, the Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) raided a garment showroom at Nayasarak and imposed a fine of Rs 30,000 on its owner for allegedly making backdoor sales.
A day before, a similar raid was conducted by the district administration of Jajpur at a garment godown at Jajpur Road for allowing customers during lockdown.
Notably, the Raja festival celebrating the womanhood began across the State on a low-key note amid coronavirus pandemic.
The government restrictions have dampened the festive mood but failed to affect the spirit of every Odia girl who celebrates the festival on a larger scale across every nook and corner of the State. Girls have been prepared to celebrate the festival inside the house and with family members in strict adherence to Covid protocols.