Non-essential item shops to reopen in Kolkata from June 1
As per a notice issued by Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC), shops selling non-essential items in 46 markets in Kolkata can open from 10 am to 5.30 pm from June 1. The 46 markets include New Market, Entally Market, Charu Market, Lake Market, Hatibagan Market, Sealdah Baithak Khana Bazar and Maniktala Bazar.
According to Member of the Board of Administrators in KMC and former Mayor-in-Council Amiruddin Bobby, the decision was taken following a notification from the state secretariat which stated that shops selling non-essential items can be allowed to open in clean zones, away from containment zones, for a stipulated period during the day.
While shops selling fish, vegetables, groceries and other essentials were allowed to open in these markets during the lockdown, those dealing with hardware, stationery, fresh flowers and the like remained closed.
Source: The New Indian Express
Lockdown in Hamirpur and Solan extended till June 30
As the nationwide lockdown 4.0 ended on May 31, the officials of Hamirpur and Solan districts in Himachal Pradesh issued orders on May 25 extending the lockdown till June 30th. The state-wide curfew in Himachal Pradesh is meant to enforce the lockdown against coronavirus. Hamirpur has reported the 63 virus cases, the highest in the state. In Solan district, 21 people have tested positive for the infection so far. In addition, section 144 of the CrPC, which prohibits gathering of people, will also remain in force in Shimla district up to June 30th.
Source: The Times of India
Delhi-Gurugram border chaos: Check points turned choke points
Border chaos on Delhi-Gurugram border turned check points into choke points, when the Haryana Home Ministry issued an order to seal Haryana boundaries on May 29th, after Gurugram reported 115 new COVID-19 cases. Due to this, even those with valid passes got stuck in a 2 km long traffic jam on the expressway. The Gurugram administration also discontinued the automatic online pass system.
According to an official, passes were being misused and will henceforth be issued only after scrutiny but passes already issued will remain valid. There was massive confusion as well over whether cab aggregators would be willing to drop people to the airport or take them to Gurugram. Many people also reported missing their flights due to traffic jam at the borders.
In latest news received from the NCR, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal has announced that the capital’s borders would be sealed for entry till June 8th, to deter a possible spike in COVID-19 cases in the region.
Source: The Times of India | News18.com
Water supply lapses lead to protest in Aurangabad
Around 25 residents in Ulkanagari area in Aurangabad city poured out into the streets with masks on, to protest against the civic administration’s failure to supply water on the scheduled day and time on May 29th. The Aurangabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) supplies water to different areas once in four to eight days.
Despite there being a surge in the demand for water during summer, the AMC has not been able to stick to its water supply schedule. The residents also wrote a letter to AMC complaining that they have not been receiving proper water supply from them over the last three months.
The residents were more agitated as barricades put up in the area after a containment zone was chalked out prevented the entry of the private tankers. Executive Engineer of the water supply department said their immediate priority was to supply water to containment zones coming in the no-pipeline areas.
Source: The Times of India
Elaborate arrangements to clean and sanitize shops in Bhopal
After two months, garments and cosmetics shops have reopened in the capital city with new rules and procedures. Shoppers are not allowed to try out clothes before buying to check the fitting and drape. Cosmetic shops are also no longer letting women test the shades of foundation or lipstick from the sample products.
The market association has instructed shopkeepers to sanitize the shops every day. They have also requested that use of masks and gloves be made compulsory for staff members. The market association has also asked shopkeepers to go for online payment and avoid cash or coin-based exchanges for transactions. However, if online payment is not possible, cash and coins should be sanitized, suggested the association.
Source: The Times of India
Compiled by Rishabh Shrivastava