Bhubaneswar: Amid the confusion lurking in the minds of shop owners while trying to interpret the guidelines stipulated for reopening, the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) today clarified certain guidelines.
Addressing a presser, BMC Commissioner Prem Chandra Chaudhary categorically stated that all shops selling essential commodities comes under the ‘allowed category’ and hence allowed to open along with other standalone and registered shops. However, prohibition is applicable for the shops located in market complexes and shopping malls during the COVID-19 lockdown
Most of the shops, which do not come under ‘prohibited category,' can open during the allowed timings from 8AM to 6 PM.
Clearing the misconception about market complexes, BMC Commissioner stated that, “If there are more than five shops or commercial units in a single building, it will be treated as a market complex."
Prohibited Category shops include:
• All market complexes, multi-brand and single brand malls.
• Gymnasiums/ game parlours/ salons/ spa, beauty parlours and massage centres.
• All shops (including thelas) of pan, tea, coffee stalls, booths, fast food & tiffin and fruit juice centres.
As per the revised guidelines issued by BMC on April 28, more than five customers inside any shop are not allowed. The corporation has asked shop owners to take responsibility &follow social distancing norms. The shop owners will also ensure that their employees/staff mandatorily wear masks. They will also not allow any staff having flu-like symptoms and report to the officials for appropriate action. Every shop needs to keep facilities for hand washing with sanitisers for staff.
According to Chaudhary, the vegetable markets which were earlier relocated and decentralised in Bhubaneswar will continue to operate at the designated places and the vendors are not allowed to return to their previous location till further orders.
'Other category' shops like electronics, repairing, clothing, jewellery are allowed operate provided they are not located inside market complexes. All such shops can operate within the allowed timing of 8 am to 6 pm. No shops will be allowed to operate after 6 pm, he added.