Srinagar: After a month-long lockdown imposed in the face of surge in COVID-19 cases, markets reopened in Jammu and Kashmir on Monday as the process of partial unlock started in the Union Territory.
According to new guidelines imposed by authorities on Sunday, shops have been allowed to open on alternate days.
The public transport was allowed to ply at 50 percent of the seating capacity in the Orange category districts while it continued to remain shut in the Red category districts.
With the Covid pandemic situation appearing to be on the ebb in the last two weeks in the Union Territory, the administration on Sunday began the process of easing out the lockdown, limiting the ‘corona curfew’ to nights and weekends only.
The ease-out process was launched amid the case positivity rate falling to 6.2 percent from 13 and the daily COVID-19 sliding down to an all-time high of 5,500 to 2,200 in the past two weeks.
While deciding to relax the corona curfew, the Jammu and Kashmir ‘State’ Executive Committee (JKSEC), however, opted to keep all educational institutions, including the private coaching centres, closed till June 15.
It also opted to keep all cinema halls, multiplexes, clubs, gyms, spas and paid parks closed till further orders.
Half of the 10 districts in Kashmir valley — Pulwama, Anantnag, Baramulla, Budgam and Kupwara — have been classified as Red, while the other half — Srinagar, Shopian, Ganderbal, Kulgam and Bandipora – have been put in the Orange category.
Meanwhile, policemen in Jammu were seen making rounds of the partially opened markets and asking people to follow Covid-appropriate behaviour strictly, especially maintaining social distance and wearing of face masks.
“We are not out of COVID-19 as yet. Please keep in mind your safety and the safety of others by following the guidelines properly,” a policeman, using the public address system fitted in his patrolling vehicle, said while moving through Shalimar market in Jammu city.
The commuters, however, faced difficulties due to the absence of public transport as only State Road Transport Corporation (SRTC) vehicles and three-wheelers were seen playing on different routes.
The private transporters went on an indefinite strike on April 21 after the government came out with COVID-19 guidelines which among other things allowed operations of public transport at 50 percent of the authorised seating capacity in Jammu and Kashmir.
“We have been demanding a hike in passenger fare to facilitate smooth operations by the economically-hit industry but the government paid no heed. We are meeting again tomorrow (Tuesday) to make a decision,” All J&K Transport Welfare Association chairman T S Wazir was quoted as saying by PTI.
Appealing to the government to take the demands of the private transporters into consideration, he said it is not feasible for them to ply their vehicles as the fuel prices are skyrocketing and the transporters have already suffered huge losses since the outbreak of the pandemic.
According to the new guidelines, the complete corona night curfew will remain imposed from 8 pm to 7 am, while there will be a weekend curfew from 8 pm Friday till 7 am Monday.
On April 29, the Jammu and Kashmir administration had imposed a curfew in 11 districts in a bid to tackle the surge in COVID-19 cases, which was subsequently extended to all the 20 districts the next day.
The curfew, which was first imposed till May 03, was then extended after assessing the situation across the Union Territory.
Meanwhile, after the State Executive Committee announced the revised guidelines for the partial relaxation in the lockdown, Srinagar administration Monday stated that 96 containment zones in the district will continue to remain under lockdown.
Even as the public transport has been allowed to ply with 50 percent seating capacity, both the driver and conductor (helper) as well as the shopkeepers will have to keep COVID-19 vaccination certificates on them in order to operate.
An order issued by DC Srinagar said the normal functioning of private hospitals, nursing homes and clinics, E-commerce and courier services is allowed.
As per the order, standalone shops of all types shall be allowed to open only on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.
It said that outdoor bazaars and shopping complexes shall be allowed to operate on Mondays and Thursdays, starting from today with certain guidelines in place.
In case of the markets having shops on both sides of road — Shops on one side of the road only shall open on a particular day/date, the other side shall remain closed completely, and the sequence of opening shall be on rotation basis.
The order further reads that the barber shops/saloons/beauty parlours shall be allowed to open only on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.
Restaurants shall be allowed to open on all days (except on Saturdays & Sundays) only for home delivery of orders and room service of residents. No entry of customers shall be permitted even for self take-away of orders.
Sports persons shall be allowed to resume their training and activities in outdoor sports stadia/grounds. However indoor sports activities are not allowed.
Public transport (matadors/minibuses/buses/taxis and cabs, etc.) are permitted to ply only at 50 percent of authorized seating capacity. However, auto-rickshaws are permitted to ply without any restrictions, the order further reads.
Religious and social gatherings such as marriages are permitted with attendance of up to 25 persons only, whether indoors and outdoors and funeral/last rights shall be attended by up to 20 persons only.
All workshops, service centres and home workshops can operate with not more than 5 persons working on site/inside the premises.
Regarding the markets having shops on one side of the road only, the odd numbered shops will remain open on Mondays, even numbered shops will remain open on Thursdays. Joint Commissioner Administration, SMC, has been asked to ensure proper numbering of shops wherever required.
In the shopping complexes and equivalent business establishments, only alternate shops shall open on rotation basis. However, the district administration Srinagar said only after submitting the rostering and numbering of shops for operating within allowed capacity, indoor shopping malls with only 25 percent of shops inside the malls shall be allowed to operate on a given day and the owner/manager of the mall shall carry out numbering of the shops and accordingly come up with the roster of operating within allowed capacity and submit the same with DDMA, Srinagar for issuance of orders for reopening.
According to the order, lockdown shall remain in force in containment zones.
The order reiterates that all schools and coaching centers, all universities, colleges and technical/skill development institutions shall remain closed for imparting on-campus/ in-person education to the students till 15-06- 2021, except for the courses/programmes that require physical presence of students on account of laboratory/research/thesis work and internship etc.
All cinemas, gymnasiums, swimming pools, entertainment parks, theatres, bars, auditoriums, assembly halls and similar places will remain closed.
Multiplexes, clubs, gyms, spas, massage centres and paid parks shall continue to remain closed, reads the order.
Among the other measures, the Srinagar authorities have ordered the daily night curfew from 8:00PM to 7:00 AM next day and weekend curfew from Friday from 8:00 PM till 7:00 AM each Monday.
The district administration Srinagar has strictly ordered to comply with the guidelines and has further directed SSP Srinagar to strictly enforce the order.
