Long queue in front of liquor shops in Assam after 26 days shut down:
Guwahati, April 13: Amid the Coronavirus lockdown, an unusual scene was seen in different parts in Assam on Monday morning. Many people made long queue in front of liquor shops in Assam to purchase liquor bottles after the Assam government allowed to open liquor shops in the state from Monday.
The people were in the queue in a disciplined manner by maintaining social distancing norms.
In Guwahati, people were queued up in front of different liquor shops to purchase liquor bottles.
The liquor shops in the state have been opened after 26 days.
The liquor shops in Assam were shut down from March 18 following a directive by the state Excise department in the wake of the Coronavirus outbreak.
On Sunday, the Assam Excise department issued an order and stated that – “The state government has approved the opening of IMFL “OFF/CS “OFF” shops, wholesale warehouses, bottling plants, distilleries, and Breweries w.e.f 13/04/2020 on the permitted days.”
The order stated that, the IMFL “OFF”/CS “OFF” Shop shall remain Open from 10:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. on the permitted days.
“The Licensee of IMFL “OFF”/CS “OFF” shops, wholesale warehouses, bottling plants, distilleries and breweries shall be personally responsible for deploying their staff to ensure maintaining social distancing of at least one meter between customers, staff, cough etiquette and to strictly follow directives issued by National Health Mission, Assam with reference to COVID-19 situation. The IMFL “OFF”/CS “OFF” shops may work with bare minimum staff and provide hand sanitizers to customers and staff while handling the bottles and cash. To strictly avoid overcrowding, staff of a particular IMFL “OFF”/CS “OFF” shop may direct the Customers to other nearby shops,” the Assam Excise department order said.
The order also stated that, the wholesale warehouses, distilleries, breweries, bottling plants shall work with bare minimum staff but not more than 50 percent of their regular staff and workers.
“The IMEL “OFF”/CS “OFF* shops shall extend full cooperation to District Administration, Excise and Police etc. Superintendent of Excise shall deploy Excise officials to monitor the compliance of directives issued by National Health Mission, Assam with reference to COVID-19 situation. The wholesale warehouses, bottling plants, breweries, distilleries must arrange to keep their staff and workers within their campus and shall arrange food and other amenities for them,” the order stated.
Assam has reported 30 positive cases for COVID-19 so far and out of 30 patients one patient died on April 10.
