SHILLONG: The closure of two CSD canteens in the city has been causing inconveniences to the customers, according to numerous complaints.
One such canteen located in the NCC Directorate campus near the Garrison Ground at General’s Point (Rhino Junction) is not catering to the customers since last week, complained affected beneficiaries.
Similarly, the CSD canteen located inside the MES Hospital near Rilbong Point, which has been shifted to MES Lower Block after the campus has been converted into a COVID-19 hospital, has not been operational since last week.
The customers, who have been visiting these canteens since last week, said that they have not only been returned by the canteen authorities but also fed with claims that “by tomorrow, they can make their purchases”.
However, tomorrow has never arrived for them as these customers have been forced to make rounds after rounds.
According to both uniformed and civilian personnel attached to the CSD canteen and NCC Directorate, the operation of the canteen has been kept in abeyance due to stock-taking work.
A notice outside the canteen gate reads that on account of stock-taking work, the canteen shall remain closed on June 13 and 14 whereas customers claimed that the notice was pasted even on Tuesday.
The second version, according to the same personnel, is that the printer attached to the computer for generating customer’s bill at the canteen is out of order and has been sent for repairing due to which they are unable to open the canteen. It is learnt that the printer is under repair for a week.
Also, the third version from these personnel is that since there are no stocks in the canteen, they are unable to open it to the beneficiaries.
Many customers said that they were told by the NCC personnel that the canteen will not open soon.
On the other hand, the CSD canteen authorities at Lower Block said that since the canteen clerk has been transferred, stock compilation work is under progress as the same has to be handed over to the new clerk due to which beneficiaries are unable to make purchases.
While the NCC canteen may take up to a fortnight to resume operation, the Lower Block canteen will start instantly.