E-Paper
Coronavirus curfew in Mohali: Long queues order of the day, relief in sight
No fresh case of coronavirus was reported from the district on Wednesday
Neighbourhood delivery of essential items remained a non-starter on Wednesday despite the Mohali administration’s assurance, forcing residents to queue up outside stores to buy milk, vegetables and other grocery items.
In some areas, hawkers and street vendors supplied milk and vegetables from 6am to 9am, while groceries and medicines were available from 8am to 11am.
There was no milk supply at the Verka booths in Sector 69, but long queues were seen at Sectors 68 and 70.
Shiv Dutta, a resident of Sector 69, said, “I went to Sector 70 to buy milk as there was no supply in our sector, but I had to wait for 25 minutes as the queues were quite long.”
Even as people queued up to buy essential items, police closed the shops and booked some shopkeepers for violating government orders.
Others were let off with a warning to open only when curfew hours were relaxed.
Vehicles were allowed on roads on Wednesday only after scrutiny of permits.
Hawkers continue to not deliver newspapers in many areas of Mohali.
POLICE CLOSE DOWN LIQUOR SHOPS
Police closed down liquor shops in various parts of the district after sub-divisional magistrates (SMDs) received information that these had opened in the morning.
Mohali deputy commissioner Girish Dayalan said he ordered SDMs to act after he received information that some shops had opened in the region after 9am. Of these, two shops were in Phase 1; five in Kharar, three in Dera Bassi and seven in Zirakpur.
CALL SHOPS FOR HOME DELIVERY OF ESSENTIALS: DC
Responding to reports of some areas in the district remaining under served during the curfew, Dayalan said the administration had taken steps to ensure door-to-door supply of food, medicines and milk.
For supply of vegetables, Mohali city has been divided into areas and pre-packed essential vegetables (potato, onions, tomato, etc) will be taken on carts in different neighbourhoods during the day. These vendors will also take orders for the next day.
For groceries and medicines, an exhaustive list of authorised shops with contact numbers is published on the administration’s website — sasnagar.nic.in.
These can be utilised to order home delivery. Besides, Reliance, Big Basket, Bhejo.co, More, 24x7, D-Mart, Best Price and Grofers will also make home deliveries.
Dayalan said all these shops will work with their shutters down. There will be no in-shop/ walk-in purchases. He added that the administration will soon be starting mobile ATMs.
Smaller dairies and milkmen have been issued passes to deliver milk in the morning. The list of authorised vendors is uploaded on the administration’s website.
In case of any issue, residents can contact the officers designated for various items in different areas. If the matter remains unresolved, the control room can be contacted at 0172-221-9541 or 78885-56264. A separate helpline (94637-75070) has been set up for donations for the needy.
