Cantt shopkeepers frown at new rule

Secunderabad: Two months after downing their shutters, shopkeepers resumed activity in the Secunderabad cantonment region.

With Ramzan just four days away, the ready-made garment stores, branded factory outlets and

shops

selling wholesale clothes, imitation jewellery, shoes and dry fruits are hoping to make the fast buck. But the odd-even formula had just poured cold water on their plans.

“So far we have managed to cover 80% of the shops. We have exempted pharmacies, wine shops, hardware shops and those selling essentials like groceries and food products from the odd even markings,”

SCB

senior superintendent (SWM), M Devender, said adding that shopkeepers were strictly instructed to adhere to the Covid-19 guidelines.

“We gave strict instructions to the shopkeepers to follow the Covid-19 preventive measures like maintaining physical distance, wearing masks and using sanitisers. We will not hesitate to penalise the violators,” added the official.

“It would take a couple of days before things fall in place. We are not expecting the business to pick up soon,” said N Sitharam, owner of a ready-made garments store at Trimulgherry. Another businessmen felt that the government should have allowed them to open at least 10 days before Ramzan.

Devender said that they would conduct an inspection after a week and a penalty of Rs 1,000 would be imposed against violators.