Liquor and Paan Shops Allowed to Open in Green Zones
NEW DELHI : The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Friday said liquor stores and paan shops will be allowed to function in green and orange zones while ensuring a distance of six feet from each other and ensuring that not more five people are present at one time at the shop.
Standalone alcohol shops can be allowed to open in orange and green zones even as the government passed an order to extend the nationwide lockdown by two weeks beyond May 4. The sources added any standalone shop, including those selling alcohol, will be allowed in orange and green zones.
In its order, the MHA laid down guidelines to be followed in different zones across the country . A number of curbs have been eased in the third phase of the lockdown, subject to the classification of areas as below:
Here is what’s allowed in this third installment of the lockdown:
Standalone shops, neighborhood shops and shops in residential areas can remain open, without any distinction of essential and non-essential.
Most commercial and private offices can open with up to 33 per cent staff, with the rest working from home. All government offices shall function with senior officers of the level of Deputy Secretary and above at full strength, and the remaining staff attending up to 33 per cent.
Out-Patient Departments (OPDs) and medical clinics shall be permitted with social distancing norms and other safety precautions; However, these will not be permitted within Containment Zones. Manufacturing units of essential goods including pharmaceuticals can operate.
People and vehicles are allowed only for permitted activities with a maximum of two passengers in four-wheeler vehicles, and with no pillion rider in the case of two-wheelers.
Print and electronic media, IT and IT enabled services, data and call centres, cold storage and warehousing services, private security and facility management services, and services provided by self-employed persons are allowed except for barbers.
In Red Zones, e-commerce operators can deliver only essential goods. However, they can deliver other products in other zones. Construction activities in urban areas have been limited to those where workers are available on site and no workers are required to be brought in from outside.
All industrial and construction activities in rural areas, including MNREGA works are allowed; All agriculture activities, like sowing, harvesting, procurement and marketing operations in the agricultural supply chain are permitted.
Banks, non-banking finance companies (NBFCs), public utilities, like power, water, sanitation, and internet will remain open; couriers are also sanctioned.
In Orange Zones, in addition to activities permitted in Red Zone, taxis and cab aggregators like Ola and Uber will be permitted with one driver and one passenger only. Four wheeler vehicles will have not more than two passengers besides the driver and pillion riding will be allowed on two-wheelers.
In Green Zones, all activities are permitted except those which are prohibited throughout the country. Public buses can operate but only at 50 per cent capacity to ensure social distancing. All goods traffic is permitted.
In containment zones which are high-risk areas, the government’s Aarogya Setu app will be mandatory. The app evaluates users’ risk of infection based on location, and their medical and travel history. It uses Bluetooth and location services to trace a user’s contacts. Nobody can move in or out of containment zones except for medical emergencies, and for maintaining supply of essential goods and services.
Here is what will not be allowed:
Travel by planes and trains remains banned. Inter-state movement by road will not be allowed. Schools and colleges will remain closed. So will malls, restaurants, gyms, barber shops and salons. No religious or political gatherings are allowed. Nobody is allowed to move around between 7 pm and 7 am.
Senior citizens above the age of 65 must remain at home at all times and in all areas. In Red Zones, public transport and taxis will not be allowed.
(With Agency Inputs ).
