Curbs relaxed; confusion rules Staff Reporter : Confusion reigns supreme with two arms of Government taking contrary view as to reopening of non-essential shops leaving traders in lurch. While Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) went ahead and issued a notification about resumption of trade city police has hit the nail by pointing to specific mention of denial of permission for market centers. But yet NMCs notification added to unnecessary controversy with concept of stand alone mentioned in the notification muddying the waters. Traders in city to appears divided on opening the shops or wait for further clarification from civic body. The majoritian view is to enmass go for reopening all establishments in non-essential sector so that administration can take necessary steps and clarify its order to remove any confusion. The NMC notification was issued by Municipal Commissioner Radhakrishnan B on Monday evening about reopening of shops across broad spectrum and it was on expected lines. This followed State Government order leaving local centers to take final decision on relaxation of curbs in their respective areas. Still everyone was keeping fingers crossed in city owing to past experience with NMC machinery that kept changing the norms as to what is allowed and what would remains closed. Despite having experienced rulers at helm civic administration inability to get it straight during the lockdown and unlocking measures seems quite strange. There is a general feeling among trade circles in city who are miffed with the unwanted confusion as the second straight year of three months lockdown at stretch is putting too much financial pressure on traders. In the fresh notification one particular clause mentioned has thrown spanner in way of resumption of normal trading activity in market places. The Clause B of civic notification issued on May 31 2021 mentioned that in the case of all non-essential shops (stand-alone shops & not inside shopping centers/malls such shops shall be allowed to operate between 7 am to 2 pm on weekdays i.e. from Monday to Friday. Mention of shoppping centers has led to doubts since city police has taken a firm view that it means busy market places like Sitabuldi does not have permission to reopen. Commissioner of Police Amitesh Kumar maintained that they would strictly implement the directives about stand-alone shops the ones that are only permitted to reopen for trade in non-essential sector. The mentioned of shopping centers is being interpreted as markets having presence of shops in row and by that logic the trading activity would continue to remain suspended. Stand-alone category has been bone of contention since last March when lockdown was announced by Central Government. Thereafter Union Home Ministry had clarified that only shops in closed spaces like the Mall and big Shopping Complex would continue to remain in restricted list while shops in open space but functioning in congested market can resume trading. Private Offices: Similarly the civic notification is silent about reopening of private offices in Break the Chain order. Most of the offices are carrying out activity albeit in discreet manner and in restricted attendance. The notification mentioned attendance in Government office alone leaving private establishments to take their own stance. Also shops related to agriculture sector are permitted to carry on business throughout the week till 2 pm. Home delivery through e-commerce platforms is allowed for all items till 11 pm on all days.

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