Odisha: Traders to lose license if social distancing norms violated

Bhubaneswar: Shopkeepers in Bhubaneswar will lose trading licence if they fail to ensure their consumers maintain social distancing. This was informed by Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation Commissioner Prem Chandra Chaudhary today here.

It’s the responsibility of shopkeepers or store owners to oversee their consumers maintain social distancing while purchasing goods. The shopkeepers were asked to put permanent circle or square marks outside the premises distancing about two metres, said the BMC Commissioner during a press briefing at the Commissionerate Police building in Bhubaneswar.

Chaudhary appealed people to avail benefits of home delivery services provided by agencies instead of going outside to markets to buy essential items.

In case any shop owner or store owner does not adhere to the directive, the shop or store will be closed by BMC and police. Following this, steps will be taken for cancellation of trade license of the concerned shop or store owner, the official added.

Toeing similar lines, Bhubaneswar-Cuttack Police Commissioner Sudhanshu Sarangi said criminal case will be registered against the traders violating social distancing norms.

As long as there has been no solution to the virus epidemic, the social distancing norm will be in force. If need arises, the social distancing directive will be in effect even after the nationwide lockdown gets over, Sarangi added.

ACP, Bhubaneswar Anup Sahoo who was also present during the press briefing no leniency will be shown to traders violating the directive.

Till yet a total of 23 persons from Odisha have tested positive for deadly COVID-19. Of them, 16 COVID-19 positive cases were from Bhubaneswar alone.

A couple of days back, two persons out of the 16 COVID-19 patients in Bhubaneswar recovered from the infection.