GUWAHATI, July 4 - Grocery shops will open on Monday and Wednesday in Guwahati where a 14-day lockdown is in force since June 28 night. According to an order issued by Chief Secretary Kumar Sanjay Krishna, grocery shops have been allowed to operate between 11 am and 4 pm on Monday and Wednesday
�However, the Deputy Commissioner will issue requisite directives to ensure that only 20 per cent of all shops are allowed to open on any given day. Shopkeepers and customers shall have to wear masks, hand gloves and maintain social distancing. Responsibility of maintenance of social distancing will be on the shop owner and failure to do so will be viewed very seriously and may entail summery closure of defaulting shops,� the order stated.
Maintenance of price line and prevention of artificial shortage will be the responsibility of shopkeepers and food, civil supplies and consumer affairs department, it said.
The wholesalers of grocery items have been allowed to replenish stocks of retailers on Sunday (July 5) and Tuesday (July 7) between 3 pm and 6 pm. No retail sale is allowed in this period.
Activities relating to essential items supply from and to FCI establishments will be allowed to operate and FCI will ensure that social distancing is maintained while loading and unloading of goods and that vehicles carrying goods to outside the district proceed to destinations without any stoppage inside Kamrup (Metro) district under any circumstances.
House to house sale of fruits and vegetables will be allowed between 8 am and 2 pm on Monday and Wednesday. Also, activities relating to wholesale distribution of medicines and medical equipment will be allowed between 10 am and 3 pm only on Monday and Wednesday.
Veterinary clinics, veterinary medicine shops will be allowed to operate on all days between 10 am and 4 pm. Feed shops will be allowed to operate on Monday and Wednesday.
E-commerce distribution activities have been allowed between 11 am and 4 pm on Friday only.
Post offices and Life Insurance Corporation offices have been allowed to operate with only 10 per cent of total employee strength and only 10 per cent of total branches during the week.
No roadside vending of any fruit, vegetable, fish, etc., will be allowed.
