SHILLONG: East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner has informed that all shops operating from fixed premises in Sohra, Pynursla Sub Division and in all C&RD Blocks of East Khasi Hills will open daily from 8 am to 8 pm.
However, barber shops, beauty parlours, salons, cyber cafe, gaming parlours, jackpot parlours, cinemas and lottery counters will remain closed till further orders. Restaurants and food stalls can operate for takeaway and home deliveries.
The order does not apply to areas falling under Police Bazaar, GS Road, Keating Road, Jail Road, Cantonment, Jeep Stand, Garikhana, Paltan Bazaar, Motphran and Iewduh.
It allows 50 per cent of private and public transport to operate as notified, while inter-district movement is permitted. However, inter-state movement will continue to be restricted.
According to the order, alternate shops on rotation basis will open in shopping malls and complexes and they have to strictly follow the standard operating procedures (SOP) on preventive measures to contain the spread of COVID-19.
Loitering in shopping malls, complex is strictly prohibited. Pharmacies, clinics, labs, veterinary clinics, dispensaries, petrol pumps, home delivery and takeaway of food, mobile car repairing service consisting of two technicians and mechanics, courier services and e-commerce operation for all goods and CSCs, services provided by self-employed persons — electrician, IT repairs, plumbers, motor mechanics and carpenters — will open daily in Shillong Urban Agglomeration, Sohra and Pynursla Civil Sub Division and in all C&RD Blocks of East Khasi Hills.
Construction work in rural areas is also permitted with permission.
In urban areas, only in-situ construction with workers available on site and from within the district are permitted.
Private office establishments will function with 33 per cent employees.
Non-contact sports excluding gymnasium must obtain permission.
Food processing units including rice mills and mustard oil processing, brick kilns, industrial units, cement plants will operate at 100 per cent capacity, mining of limestone and boulder by lease-holder for domestic sale in the state or country and export outside the country permitted only through automated, elevated conveyor belt with no human intervention, quarrying of chips and aggregates including their transportation are allowed to open and operate
All agriculture and allied sector activities like farming, cold storage and warehouses, manufacturing, packaging and distribution of agriculture inputs are allowed to open and operate.
Operation of tea industry is allowed and permission for transit and routes involved to be obtained from the DC’s office, EKH.
MGNREGA works with strict implementation of social distancing and face masks are allowed. Tea stalls in rural areas are allowed to open barring those along the National Highway. Operation of permitted establishments, services, agricultural, industrial and commercial activities in both urban and rural areas will have to strictly adhere to the prescribed SOPs and comply to the advisories of Health and Family Welfare Department.
Headmen in coordination with district police will regulate the operation of the shops, services and commercial establishments in their respective localities.
The DC requested people to strictly maintain social distancing of at least 6 feet, avoid overcrowding in one place, wear masks, which is mandatory, not to spit in public places.
Wholesale shops
Wholesale shops of both essential and non-essential goods operating from fixed premises will open from 8 am to 8 pm in Shillong Urban Agglomeration for areas falling under Mawlonghat, Jeep Stand, Garikhana and Paltan Bazar on every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
Doorstep delivery to retailers will be done on every Thursday, Friday and Saturday, till further orders.
However, the order will not affect the arrangement for operation of wholesalers (vegetable, betel nut, betel leaf and locally produce traditional equipment and tools) of Iewduh in parking lots of Shillong Municipal Board located at Mawlonghat.
Urban areas
Shops in Shillong Urban Agglomeration for areas falling under Police Bazaar, GS Road, Keating Road, Jail Road, Cantonment area and Motphran will open as per schedule from 8 am to 8 pm.
Shops will open based on odd and even serial numbers as directed by the district administration.
For stand-alone shops, from June 15 to 20, outlets with even numbers will open on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday while the other days will be for shops with odd numbers.
From June 22 to 27, shops with odd number will operate on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays while the remaining days will be for those with even numbers.
For shopping malls and complexes, except Glory’s Plaza, JM Towers and Jivan Ram, shops with even numbers will operate on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from June 15 to 20, and the other days of the week will be for those with odd numbers.
From June 22 to 27, Monday, Wednesday and Friday will be for odd numbers and Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday will be for even numbers.
For Glory’s Plaza, JM Towers (except COSMOS) and Jivan Complex (Bhutia Market), from June 15 to 20, shops with even numbers will open on Monday, Wednesday and Friday and others will open on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. While from June 22 to 27 Monday, Wednesday and Friday will be for shops with odd numbers and vice-versa.
Wine shops
The Deputy Commissioner (Excise), East Khasi Hills, has notified that listed wine shops and bonded warehouses in the district will open in select locations each week from Monday to Saturday between 10 am to 8 pm, from Monday.
However, wine stores in locations close to the international borders, narrow roads and lanes compromising the interest of social distancing and areas with high transmission risk will not open, the notification said.
The DC has has also issued strict advisories to be followed. Sale of liquor shall not exceed three litres of foreign liquor or wine and four litres of beer, per customer.
Owners of the wine stores will utilize their own staff and they will personally be responsible to ensure that strict standard protocols issued by the Health and Family Welfare Department are to be followed with reference to COVID-19 situation, the DC’s order said.
The DC has strictly prohibited overcrowding in wine stores. The social distancing must be maintained, wearing of face masks is compulsory and hand sanitisers should be provided to the customers.
The order also stated that violation of government health protocols, spitting in public places shall be strictly dealt with in accordance with law.
The Deputy Commissioner also said that proprietors of wine stores shall mandatorily take appropriate measures to prevent people from crowding and breaking social distancing norms in their respective premises and failure to enforce the prescribed norms will warrant closure of the wine store.