EASING OF RESTRICTIONS
Jammu and Kashmir being a Union Territory is directly under the control of MHA. There is the good news for the people of Jammu and Kashmir that MHA has decided to ease some restrictions amid lockdown. MHA from Friday night allowed opening of neighborhood and standalone shops, including those located in residential complexes within municipal areas, but at a 50 per cent strength and after taking necessary precautions.
However, the order signed by Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla, made it clear that shops in marketplaces, multi-brand and single-brand malls located in municipality areas shall continue to remain closed till May 3.
Amending its April 15 order, the Union Home Ministry said “all shops, including neighborhood shops and standalone shops, shops in residential complexes, within the limits of municipal corporations and municipalities, registered under the Shops and Establishment Act of the respective State and UT” will be allowed to open during the lockdown.
The shops will mandatorily have 50 per cent strength of workers wearing of masks and following social distancing. Opening of neighborhood shops is being seen as a relief to people of Jammu and Kashmir who have been under lockdown since March 19 to contain the spread of novel coronavirus.
The order has comes at the beginning of Muslim holy month Ramzan and it would be a huge relief of the people of Srinagar city as they wanted such window for getting their essential items.
People of Srinagar and other parts of Kashmir valley hope and pray that the local administration will follow the orders of MHA to allow people to buy the essential items from the shops and other outlets during the holy month of Ramzan.
