Liquor shops in Delhi closed again as people throng flouting social distancing norms
New Delhi/IBNS: Hours after Delhi government announced to ease lockdown situation according to the Home Ministry guidelines for the third phase of nationwide closure, it had to take back the permission to open liquor shops as people thronged in large numbers outside these shops, threatening social distancing norms.
As the shutdown was extended, the Ministry of Home Affairs allowed the opening of stand-alone liquor shops in all parts of the country, except the containment zones. The shops should not be located in markets and malls in urban areas, and a minimum of six-feet social distancing should be maintained with not more than five people allowed in the shop at a time, the directive had added.
Within hours of opening, liquor shops in various parts of the capital city were shut as people crowded these shops flouting social distancing norms, said news reports.
Over 100 liquor shops were permitted to open in Delhi, which has 90 containment zones, said an NDTV report. In order to bring the situation in control, the police had to resort to baton charging in Kashmere Gate and Narela areas of the capital, the report added.
Keeping in mind the need to bounce back the economic condition of the national capital amid COVID-19 outbreak, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday said his government will implement all lockdown relaxations that have been prescribed by the Union home ministry.
Kejriwal said: " Delhi is ready to re-open now."
"We will not be able to sustain the lockdown for long as the economy is in peril," he said.
The Union government extended the lockdown till May 17.
It was earlier scheduled to end on May 3.
(Photo: UNI)
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